It is the duty of the arbitrators to appoint a time and place for hearing the parties and making their award, of which they must give the parties three days’ notice; and if no cause is shown for a continuance, they must proceed to hear and determine the matters referred to them and make their award in writing, which must be signed by them and a copy thereof be delivered to each of the parties, their agents, or attorneys and the fact and date of such delivery endorsed on the original.