ALLEGIKD GRAIN STEALING. Thos. Pratt surrendered to his bail, charged with having, on the 23rd April, stolen 1000 bags of oats, the property of James Hassell. Mr Hislop appeared on behalf of the prosecution, and Mr O'Meagher for the defendant, who pleaded " Not Guilty." On the application of Mr O'Meagher, accused was allowed to take his seat near his counsel (Mr O'Meagher). In his opening remarks Mr Hislop said Mr Liddle and Mr Hassell, jun., acted as attorneys in this Colony for Mr James Hassell, sen., who is at present absent from the Colony, and in that capacity Mr Liddle had laid the information. After entering fully into the particulars of the case, he called James Liddle, who deposod : I am the prosecutor in this case. At one time I was in partnership with Pratt. The name of the firm was " Pratt and Co." We entered into partnership in February or March, 1875. The business of the part nership was that of millers. There was no term agreed upon, anil no deed of part nership between us. The only memo, of partnership was that I wrote on the fly leaf of the first cheque book — " James Liddle and Thomas Pratt, trading as Pratt and Co., millers, &c." We had an account at the Bank, called the " mill account." It was operated upon by my- Iblf and Jnmes Hassell, jun., signing the cheques. Although I had confidence in Pratt as a miller, I had not sufficient confidence in him as a financior. We con tinued in partnership until I gave Pratt notice, by letter, on the 22nd February last, to terminate the partnership. I met him two or three days afterwards in Thames street, and he said he agreed to the terms of the letter, and snid he had expected it. The purport of the letter wos to terminate the arrangement or part nership existing between us My object was to wind up the business to the best advantage nnd a% quickly as possib'.e. Previous to this Pratt had maile arrange ments to purchaie some onts from Mr Holmes. I knew of this purchase. The ar rangement was made for Pratt and Co., the quantity being about 500 bags. I did not know how they wore to be paid for. 