(1) When the Commissioner, after due enquiry, is satisfied that a district board has made default in performing any duty imposed upon it by or under this Act, he may, by an order in writing, fix a period for the performance of that duty, and, if it is not performed within the period so fixed, he may appoint some person to perform it, and may direct that the expense of performing it shall be paid, within such time as he may fix, by the board to that person.
     (2) If the expense is not so paid, the Commissioner may make an order directing the person having the custody of the balance of the district fund to pay the expense, or so much thereof as is, from time to time, possible, from that balance in priority to all other charges against the same.