3.—(1) Upon his appointment a referee shall invite the undertakers to send him, within 28 days after the date of his appointment, a written statement of the grounds of their complaint, a copy of which he shall send to the engineer who made the recommendation with a request for his written observations within 28 days after the date of that request.
(2) The referee shall refer the written observations of the engineer to the undertakers for comment and may if he wishes arrange to meet them, or their representatives to hear any observations either party may wish to make orally.
(3) The referee may, at any time during his investigation of the complaint, make an inspection of the reservoir with or without the undertakers and the engineer or their representatives.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this article, the manner in which the referee conducts his investigation shall be such as he, in his discretion, shall determine.
(5) The referee after concluding his investigation of the complaint shall communicate his decision on the report, and reasons for it to the undertakers and the engineer as soon as practicable.