Kibby

Three separate petitions for writs of mandate were consolidated for trial in the court below, and have also been consolidated for the purposes of appeal. The writs were granted by the court, hence these appeals. The following statement of facts is sufficient for an understanding of the questions presented for decision.

The San Joaquin River Water Storage District, hereinafter referred to as the district, was organized November 2'6, 1923, under the California Water Storage District Act, approved June 3, 1921 (Deering’s General Laws, 1931, vol. 3, p. 5103). On March 4, 1924, an assessment was levied on the property within the district under the provisions of section 16 of said act. Proceedings were regularly had for the collection of the assessments, and the assessments upon the several pieces of property mentioned in the petitions herein not having been paid, the properties were offered for sale at public auction. There were no bidders for the properties described in cases Nos. 9107 and 9108, and said properties were struck off to the district as provided in section 21 of the act, and certificates of sale therefor issued to the district by the county treasurer as ex-officio…