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the President of the Bank; at a Branch, by the Manager; and at an Agency, by the person in charge of the Agency. If a counter-signature be required it shall be affixed at the Head Office by one of the Directors or by the Manager, and at a Branch or Agency by the person duly authorized thereto.
80.-The signing, sealing, endorsing, accepting, etc., of bills of exchange, promissory notes, cheques, and other papers shall be made at the Head Office, by the President and the Manager; at a Branch, by the Manager; and at an Agency, by the person in charge.
81.-Any Officer of the Bank, other than the President, Manager, or person in charge, who is specially authorized, may sign and seal, endorse and accept all papers and documents mentioned in Articles 79 and 80 hereof.
82.-Papers and documents mentioned in Articles 79 and 80 hereof and drawn up in a Foreign language, may be signed in that language by the person in charge and according to the nature of the papers and documents, the seal of the Bank may not be required.
83.-The business hours of the Bank at Head Office and Branches in Japan shall, except on Holidays and Saturdays, be from 9 o'clock in the forenoon till 3 o'clock in the afternoon; and on Saturdays, from 9 o'clock in the forenoon till 12 o'clock noon. These hours may be altered for a time if deemed necessary by the Board of Directors, and due notice of every such alteration shall be given in the newspapers.
84.-The holidays observed by the Bank shall be Sundays and national holidays. If the Board of Directors deem it necessary other holidays may be observed, but in this case the permission of the Minister of State for Finance shall be first obtained and previous notice thereof shall be given in the newspapers.
85-The Branches and Agencies abroad shall observe the usual office hours and holidays prescribed by the laws and customs of the country where they are respectively situated.
RESERVE FUND AGAINST DEPOSITS.
86.-The Bank shall keep in reserve a sum of money equal to at least one-fourth of the total amount of deposits payable on demand.
GENERAL ACCOUNTS AND DIVISION OF PROFITS.
87.-General Accounts of the Bank shall be made up twice each year. The six months from January to June inclusive, and from July to December inclusive, shall be the General Accounts respectively the first and second half-yearly term for General Accounts. Accounts for the first half-yearly term shall be reported at the Ordinary General Meetings of Shareholders held in September, and those for the second half-yearly term at the Ordinary General Meetings of Shareholders held in March of the following year. The provisions of this Article shall take effect from the second half-yearly term of the 21st year of Meiji, and the General Accounts for such term shall be reported at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held in March of the 22nd year of Meiji. General Accounts up to the first half-yearly term of the 21st year of Meiji shall be reported at the dates hitherto fixed for such purposes.
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88.-The statement of every half-yearly General Accounts shall be examined by two Auditors, and if found correct, the same shall be certified by them to that effect. The Auditors shall be elected annually at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held in the first half-yearly term from among the shareholders holding not less than fifty shares.
89-Profit and loss account and the division of profits shall be made in the manner following, viz.:-The amount of the net profit shall be determined by deducting from the gross profits all interest, salaries, travelling and all other current expenses and also extraordinary losses and reserve for doubtful debts, and depreciation of property. From this net profit the Reserve Fund and bonuses for the Officers and Employees of the Bank shall next be deducted, and the balance shall be divided among the Shareholders, but its portion may be carried forward to the following term.
90.-The Reserve for doubtful debts is the amount set aside against those debts which the Board of Directors consider may ultimately result in loss. If any portion of such debts is afterwards recovered or secured, such amount shall be accounted for in the profits of the term during which such recovery is made or such security is obtained.
91.-Ten per cent. at least of the net profit of every half-yearly term shall be set aside as a Reserve Fund. The Reserve Fund can only be drawn on when the Reserve for doubtful debts and the profits of the current term are not sufficient to cover losses or when dividends are diminished.
92.-Dividends for each half-yearly term shall be payable to the shareholders whose names stand on the Register of Shares on the day the accounts for such term are reported.
93.-Bonuses to be given to the Officers of the Bank shall be six per cent. of the net profit, not exceeding, however, the sum of 50,000 yen semi-annually, and the net profit aforesaid shall not include the balance carried down from the preceding half-yearly account.
BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS.
94-The following books shall be kept in the Bank, and there shall be entered therein particulars of the state of the Bank's affairs generally as well as statements of assets and liabilities of the Bank.
(1) Cash Book.
(2) Day Book.
(3) General Account Ledger.
(4) Share Account Ledger.
And such other books as the Board of Directors may deem necessary.
95.-The Bank shall present reports of its accounts as ordered by the Minister of State for Finance.
NOTICE AND REPORT.
96.-Not less than fifteen days' notice, of each Meeting of Shareholders, whether Ordinary or Extraordinary, shall be given...
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