To The Editor Of THE ' Nelson Examiner.'

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 70, 28 November 1857, Page 3

To The Editor Of THE ' Nelson Examiner.'

Sib — As the publication, by Mr. W. Lightband, in your last issue, of a letter signed (in the original) by himself and Mr. Hough, dated in June last, and addressed to the Chairman of the subscribers to the Gold Bonus, without the remainder of the correspondence, implies that that letter has remained unanswered and unattended to, I wish, on the part of the subscribers, to state that Messrs. Lightband and Hough's letter of June was laid before a meeting of the subscribers on the 30th of the same month, and was replied to by me at their direction on the 11th of July. Since that date two letters have been received from Messrs. Lightband and Hough, one of which was submitted to the subscribers, and also answered by me at their direction ; the other reached me only a few days since, and will be considered at the next meeting.

Not to trouble you with this correspondence, the result appears in the following resolution, passed at the last meeting of the subscribers, held on the 13th instant :—

" That Messrs. Hough and Lightband, and Messrs. Ellis and James, two of the claimants to the Bonus, having sent in to the subscribers written statements distinctly affirming that they have complied with the conditions of the offered reward, and also that they nre prepared to prove the same by evidence, the subscribers, although of opinion, from such information as they possess, that the conditions have not been complied with, either literally or substantially, will nevertheless refer the claims for the decision of the arbitrators originally appointed, if requested to do so by either of the aforesaid claimants." In reply to my letter forwarding to them a copy of this resolution, Messrs. Hough and Lightband request that their claim may be submitted to the arbitrators for decision.

From Messrs. Ellis and James I have as yet no answer, but I hare little doubt it will arrive in a few days, and will be to the same effect. A meeting of the subscribers will then at once be summoned, in order that arrangements may be made with the arbitrators, and with all parties concerned, for a full investigation of the conflicting claims to the Bonus, which are somewhat numerous.

The arbitrators originally appointed, are, it will be recollected, the Resident Magistrate, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Mr. Sclanders. By placing, at the outset, the disposition of the Bonus entirely in the hands of these gentlemen, of whom one only (Mr. Sclandera) is a member of their body, the subscribers effectually guarded against the possibility of cavil or of any imputation of partiality or evasion, should the ultimate decision in the matter not be to the perfect contentment and satisfaction of each and every of the conflicting claimants. I am, &c., Oswald Cubtis, Honorary Secretary to the Subscribers. Nelson, Nov. 26, 1857.