5.—(1) Where several actions by the same plaintiff against several defendants are proceeding in the same court and the event of the action depends on the finding of the judge on some question common to all of them, the judge may at any time select one of them for hearing and stay proceedings in all the others until a decree is given in the selected action.
(2) After a decree is given in the selected action, unless the plaintiff and the defendant in the other actions or any of them submit to a decree in accordance therewith, the other actions shall proceed.
(3) On receipt of notice from the plaintiff or defendant in any such action to enter it for hearing, the chief clerk shall appoint a day for the hearing and shall send notice thereof to both plaintiff and defendant before the beginning of a period of fourteen days ending on the day so appointed.