<ARTICLE>                  5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS  AND INCOME  STATEMENTS  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  THE  DECEMBER 31, 1996,
PRESENTATION CONTAINS RECLASSIFICATIONS AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 31, 1995.
</LEGEND>
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                       DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                                                  11,930
<SECURITIES>                                                             6,019
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           26,604
<ALLOWANCES>                                                               445
<INVENTORY>                                                                  0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        62,332
<PP&E>                                                                  46,214
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          21,720
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         114,122
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   23,344
<BONDS>                                                                  1,462
<COMMON>                                                                   126
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                  0
<OTHER-SE>                                                              84,102
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           114,122
<SALES>                                                                      0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        41,532
<CGS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           16,042
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         5,705
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                          37
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          7,442
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             2,958
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      4,484
<DISCONTINUED>                                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             4,484
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              .35