The hearing in all the cases arising under this Act shall have precedence over all other cases in any court where the same shall be brought, except criminal cases, or other cases in which the public is a moving party.
     The court before which any such proceedings may be pending shall have authority to modify, alter, change, annul or confirm any assessment returned as aforesaid, in addition to the authority already conferred upon it, and may take all such proceedings, and make all such orders, as may be necessary to such improvement, according to the principles of this Act, and may from time to time, as may be necessary, continue the application for that purpose, as to the whole or any part of the premises.