Conduct of proceedings

Subject to the provisions of this Act, proceedings under this Act shall be conducted in such manner as the court shall, either with reference to any particular case, or generally, direct, and in particular the court may, if it thinks fit, (a) prescribe forms to be used in the proceedings; (b) direct or permit any evidence to be given by affidavit; (c) dispense with proof of any document or plan, or any statement appearing to be the statement of a deceased person where such document, plan, or statement would, if proved, be admissible in evidence; (d) regulate the means by which particular facts may be proved and the mode in which evidence thereof may be given, and, for the purpose of avoiding delay or expense, dispense with the technical rules of evidence; 9 (e) order the discovery and production of any document relating to land which is or may be affected by the proceedings notwithstanding that the document evidences or relates exclusively to the title or case of the person against whom the order is made and contains nothing tending to impeach his own title or case or support the title or case of any other party to the proceedings, and may make such an order notwithstanding that the person having the custody of the document is not a party to the proceedings; (f) adjourn the proceedings from time to time in order to permit surveys to be made, lines to be cut, boundaries to be marked, or for any other reason.