EMERSON C. HARRINGTON, GOVERNOR. 617

official seal. In any case notice may be given to all persons,
non-residents of said county or of this State, by posting a
copy of said notice in writing or printing in front of the
property of the person to be notified, and on account of
which the adjusters have returned that said person shall pay
a part of the expenses of said improvement, and also at
some hotel or other public place in Pocomoke City at least
twenty days before the day appointed for such appearance and
answer. All persons notified in any of the modes herein men-
tioned shall be bound by an order of assessments which may be
directed or to be made by the Mayor and Council, whether
they attend or not. On the day appointed in the notice
for the appearance and answer of the parties named in the
adjusters' return such persons may appear, and whoever ap-
pears shall be heard, and upon and after such hearing the
Mayor and Council shall make decision as to the person who
shall contribute to the expense thereof and as to the proportion
in which the several persons shall pay, and the Mayor and
Council shall pass an order setting forth their decision. Any
person assessed to pay part of the expenses of said improvement
may appeal from such decision of the Mayor and Council at
any time within thirty days to the Circuit Court for Wor-
cester County, but if no appeal is taken within thirty days the
Mayor and Council shall arrange for doing the work and fur-
nishing the material. They may provide materials and con-
tract for doing ,the work or they may contract with the same
person for the materials and work; they may call on two or
three persons skilled in such work to make an offer of terms
on which they will do the work, and they shall accept the bid
or offer of the person who in their judgment will furnish the
best material and work for the least money, or who will do the
best work on the most moderate terms. Upon the completion
of the work the Mayor and Council shall examine it and shall
hear complaints, if any be made, within ten days after the
work has been completed; after ten days they may accept the
same. Controversies with the contractor may be settled by sub-
mitting the matters in question to referees chosen in the usual
manner, or the contractor or claimant may be left to his action
at law, but in the meantime the public may use the improve-
ment. After the work has been accepted the persons who are
liable to pay for the same shall not be entitled to set up any
defects in the work or material as a ground from exempting
them from paying their contribution. As soon as the work has