A meeting of the Beechworth Presbytery was held in St. David's Church, Albury, on Wednesday evening last, principally for the purpose of affording another opportunity for investigating the reports which have for a long time been current with regard to the Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne. The Rev. Mr. Anderson acted as Moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Murdoch as Clerk. There were also present the Rev. Mr. McCutcheon, and Messrs Wallace and Jackson, ruling elders of the Church. A number of the congregation were also in attendance, and the Presbytery was held with open doors.

After prayer, the Moderator read the citation which has already been published, calling upon all persons who have charges to prefer against the late minister to attend and produce their complaints, supported by sufficient proof, and enjoining them that in default of the attendance of complainants, any charges which they might have to make would be held to be disproven. Having read this citation, the Moderator again invited complainants to make their charges now or never. He added that as some misapprehension seemed to exist as to the nature of this court, he wished it to be understood, as explained fully in the printed rules of the church, that the manner in which inquiries of the present nature are in those rules ordered to be conducted was strictly in accordance with the present proceedings: thus it is laid down that the first court at which any charge may be heard against a minister who is not in working charge of a congregation is, and must be, a meeting of the local Presbytery in the district where the fama occurred. If the proceedings of such Presbytery are considered to be proper and equitable, the plaintiffs or objectors who appear before it have it in their power to appeal to the higher Court. The rules on this point, as to what is properly the first Court of hearing, were then read out by the Moderator, who added that this present meeting would be the last opportunity to be afforded for the hearing of complaints from people in this district, and that if no plaintiff appeared, the matter, as regards the church, would he held to be settled, and the Rev. Mr. Ballantyne to be considered as free of all reproach.

A pause having occurred without any plaintiff putting in an appearance, the Moderator asked for the last time, if any person had any charge to lay before the Presbytery.

The Rev. Murdoch, clerk, said that he trusted the nature of the court was now properly understood; there could, in fact, be no mistake as to the power of this court to hear the objections which had been expected. As, however, no one had appeared before the court, he would move that - "Whereas, in accordance with the law of the church, persons having any charge against the Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne have been publicly cited to appear at this meeting of Presbytery and state their charges; and whereas no person has appeared to state or prove any charge against the said Reverend David Hunter Ballantyne, the Presbytery hereby declare that, in term of the Citation, the case takes end, and resolve to report to this effect to the Commission of Assembly, by whose order this meeting of Presbytery has been held."

The motion was seconded by Mr. Wallace, and was carried amid applause from the congregation.

The Moderator then declared that, according to the rules of the church, the fama against the Rev. D. H. Ballantyne shall be held as utterly groundless and disproven.

The Presbytery then proceeded to hear Messrs. Kilgour and Crum, who attended as deputation from Chiltern to make a call for the appointment of a minister to take charge of the congregation at that place. The deputation having been examined by the Moderator as to the wishes of the Chiltern people and the amount of income, &c, offered by them, it was resolved that the request of the deputation for the appointment of a clergyman be acceded to, and that arrangements be made for 'moderation' to take place on Sunday week. "Albury Banner"

[This appears to be an extraordinary judicial court. - Editor "Ovens and Murray Advertiser."