Whenever a joint committee is created as provided by section 40:151-49 of this title, the governing body of the township in which such district is situated shall appoint a time and place on the first Monday succeeding the first election of fire commissioners in said new district for a meeting of the joint committee. At the appointed time and place the joint committee shall meet, and shall then and there, or as soon thereafter as may be, proceed to appraise, state an account of, allot and divide between the old and new fire districts all the moneys on hand, property, assets and liens, and all the indebtedness of said district in proportion to the taxable property and ratables within the respective limits of such districts as the same shall remain. Such apportionment shall be based upon the last abstract of ratables made for the purpose of levying taxes in each of said fire districts. Any real estate belonging to the old fire district acquired and held for public use shall be and remain the property of the fire district within whose limits it may lie after separation, and any indebtedness then existing incurred for or on account of such property, shall be and remain the indebtedness of the fire district which retains said property, and neither said property nor said indebtedness shall be included or taken into account in making the apportionment and division herein provided for.