Here a considerable supi has, also been ex pended in a water-race, three-quarters of a mile long, at the head of which is a large dam for raising the water to the .height'of the wheel used - to- drive the : machinery;/ fin:the trip to the capper-mine, the party were accom-., panied by Mr JVC. Brown, M.H.R., who fired the. first shot in the mine.' l He expressed himselfjas delighted With the prospects ’of the : undertaking;-/and spoke.l) in complimentary terms of the enterprise of the company, i .The party , returned to. town on Monday, evening, highly pleased, with. 1 the trip, 'which, as the< weather kept fine, ; was a'very enjoyable one 1. ’ * Concerning the affairs of the 1 late Mr Halse, • solicitor, of New Plymouth; who /commltted suicide, a |few days/ago;; the “* Patea Mailf’- says :—lt is understood that the revelation of Mr -Halse’s financial position caipe abput through a simple! incident. A client living out 1 -Of the district had entrusted the’ lawyer' with £soo to irivest, and: this was supposed to' be in vested in mortgage on a certain property. The client-visited New Plymouth, a few days ago, and went to see the' property .in which [Mr; Halse professed to have invested his money.’ It soon appeared: that : the /mortgage existence. The client demanded, an explana tion, and Mr Halse appears to [have made the matter worse by trying to conceal the decep tion.,' The client instructed another lawyer in' the town to take legal proceedings, whether in the.-criminal farm for breach of trust, or in the .civil form, of,-an; action; for debt,’ we /are not jaware. , Thri -matter berianae* hours ’a tagih’g financial in thri place, ' arid a crowd" of; • pSople' '■ besieged Mr"/ H alse’s 'office ‘deftiariding' surrender of (deeds and .other [forma ofsatiafac— rtion.. Mr Halse became ,so distracted that-Mr Roy had 1 to take the responsibility, of palling a private'meeting of creditors/ 1 "Before the credi tors'met,‘'arid indeed on the same’iriorbihg,' Mr. Halse was' found dead, having- poisoned- himself with! strychnine, a.-• deadly i but "excruqiatiog poison, jn, .his ( pccaßipnal r^i^e.ri o ® at i W a ri ara -, His liabilities' are reported to be aForit £22,000.' His assets may be worth more'than'that when looked into 'and realised. - Mr;;Rby, the son-in-' law and , partner, had. 