Discretionary powers of the court

(1) Subject to this Act and to general rules, the costs of and incidental to any proceeding in court under this Act shall be in the discretion of the court; Provided that where any issue is tried by a jury, the costs shall follow the event, unless upon application made at the trial, for good cause shown, the court otherwise orders. (2) The court may at any time adjourn any proceedings before it upon such terms, if any, as it may think fit to impose. (3) The court may at any time amend any written process or proceeding under this Act upon such terms, if any, as it may think fit to impose. (4) Where by this Act or by general rules the time for doing any act or thing is limited, the court may extend the time either before or after the expiration thereof, upon such terms, if any, as the court may think fit to impose. (5) Subject to general rules, the court may in any matter take the whole or any part of the evidence either viva voce or by interrogatories or upon affidavit, or by commission abroad. (6) For the purpose of approving a composition or scheme by joint debtors, the court may, if it thinks fit, and on the report of the Official Receiver that it is expedient to do so, dispense with the public examination of one of such joint debtors if he is unavoidably prevented from attending the examination by illness or absence abroad.