Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/56

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OR, LIFE ON THE GOLDFIELDS
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knife. Failing to get it out with that, he got a pick and unearthed the monster.

On one occasion a man presented for payment a demand deposit receipt for £45. I asked him how he would take it. “In £5 notes,” he replied. Nine £5 notes were counted out and handed to him. Noticing him lounging about, I said, “You found the notes all right, didn’t you?” “Oh, yes!” he replied, at the same time pushing them across the counter, saying, “I want to deposit them again.” “But you have this moment drawn them out,” said I. “Yes!’ he replied, “I only drew the money to see it was all right.”

On another occasion a man deposited a sum of money at call, “Can I draw the money at any time?” he asked. “At any time!” I replied. After thinking awhile he said, “Suppose I come some fine moonlight night?” That was enough for me. I could not keep my gravity, so got one of the officers to explain that, by saying he could get his money at any time, we meant any time during the ordinary business hours.