THE GOLD BONUS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, 10 February 1858, Page 3

THE GOLD BONUS.

The arbitrators to whom the settlement of the gold bonus question had been referred, met at the police office on Thursday the 4th instant at two o'clock p.m. Present — John Poynter Esq., Resident Magistrate; Alteed Domett, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Alfred Fell, Esq., Merchant, (in lieu of Dated Sclanders, Esq.) The list of claims was then read by Oswald CtlETig, Esq., Honorary Secretary to the Gold Bonus Committee, and were as follows :—: — W. T. L. Teavees and John Oddham, for a district bounded on the south by Doctors Creek ; on the north by Clark River j on the west by the Aorere River, and extending eastward about 9 miles. John Eims, and others for a circle including Lightband's and Cole's Gullies, Appoo's Flat, the Pura Pura, and a small position of the Aorere River. J. Aepoo, for nearly the same district as Ellis. WItiMAM Hough, and W. Lightband, for a circle including Doctor's Creek, Slate River, Golden Q-ulley, Bedstead Gulley, and part of the Aorere River, at its junction with the Slate River. Michael Bushel, J. Small, and others for a circle containing the upper end of the Slate River above the second forks. Mr. Curtis said that these were the claims on which the Q-old Bonus Committee thought the arbitrators would have to decide j there were also claims from: — John Oldhara, for the district of Takaka. W. T. L. Travers and J. Oldham, for the district of Takaka. John Price, for the district of Motueka and Wangapeka. Alexander Ogg, for the district of Wangapeka. J. Sheppard, for the district of Nelson. J. P. Salisbury, for the district of Motueka and Wangapeka. John Ellis, for the district of Otamatauri. Daniel Clarke, for the district of Upper Motueka. J. Maokay Jun., for the district of the Snowy Ranges and Ahuriri. J. Ellis, James and Gibson, for the district of Quartz Ranges. W. T. L. Teavbes and J. Oldham were then called upon. Mr. Teavees said he did not think he had complied with the requirements of the Committee, and should therefore not press his claim, although he would say that he thought he and Mr. Oldham were the first to discover a gold field, and it would be seen that the district named by them, embraced nearly all the ground that had produced gold. He thought that the richest gold country had not yet been looked at by the diggers, and that was the Takaka, of which he could speak with more confidence than any other dis- ; triefc. The claim of John Ellis, and John and Edward James, was then heard. John Ellis said gold was first discovered by his party in July, 1856 : that they subsequently worked there for two months, although they knew nothing whatever of gold digging ; he thought small gold would not pay, and kept searching for nuggets. John James showed Messrs. Hough and Lightband where they had found the gold, and they said they would try and assist them (Ellis and Co.) in getting the bonus. They first found gold near the bottom of what is now known as Lightband'e Gully. It was after Christmas before people came in any numbers. He told Mr. Outridge \yhen they first discovered the gold. Edward James found the first speck. Edward James gava confirmatory evidence, and said the greatest quantity five of them got in one day was 8J oz. Their average was 2| oz. j they worked in the gully six weeks. John James made a similar statement, and said he thought that in the middle of March there were more than 400 diggers there.

Thomas Brown Recce said he knew the boundaries of Ellis's claim ; there were, he thought, an average of 280 diggers working there from February to May inclusive. 'xivz case of William Hough and William Lightband, was then enquired into.

William Hough examined said : Their claim was first put in in Jan. 1857 ; they first discovered gold on the 28th December, 1856. He went with Lightband to see if they could discover a workable gold field, and they first prospected where Ellis had found the gold, but were not successful ; they then went lu'gher up the gully to try and strike the lead, which they succeeded in doing, in February, 1857. W. Lightband said he had prospected the country, and the first gold in any quantity which he had discovered was between Bedstead Gully and the Slate River. He had prospected where Ellis said he found the gold, for one week, but did not find enough to pay ; he however found a great deal higher up the gully, which was now called Lightband's gully. He thought there were on nn average 500 diggers working there. His party dug there in consequence of what Ellis had told them.

Donald M'Gregor said he was informed by Mr. Lightband, sen., in the month of January, 1857, that Hough had found a gold field ; he went across to where they were working ; and Lightband had only discovered a paying prospect a few days before ho (M'Gregor) arrived there. He was perfectly sure James did not work there until Lightband had found that the gully would pay. The Slate river was first discovered as a payable field in June, 1857. No one had worked or prospected in Bedstead gully until he went there ; he did not think he went there until after the 6th February. James Smart and F. Berey said they thought, there were more than 250 men working in that district for four consecutive months. This closed Hough and Lightband's claim. The arbitrators adjourned until the following day.