In its discretion the board may file a petition at any time in the district court in and for any county in which the authority is located wholly or in part, praying a judicial examination and determination of any power conferred or of any tax or rates or charges levied or of any act, proceeding or contract of the authority, whether or not said contract shall have been executed, including proposed contracts for the acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, operation or disposal of any project for the authority. Such petition shall set forth the facts whereon the validity of such power, assessment, act, proceeding or contract is founded and shall be verified by the chairman of the board. Such action shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem, and jurisdiction of all parties interested may be had by publication and posting, as hereinafter provided. Notice of the filing of said petition shall be given by the clerk of the court, under the seal thereof, stating in brief outline the contents of the petition and showing where a full copy of any contract therein mentioned may be examined. The notice shall be served by publication in at least five consecutive issues of a weekly newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the principal office of the authority is located, and by posting the same in the office of the authority at least thirty days prior to the date fixed in said notice for the hearing on said petition. Jurisdiction shall be complete after such publication and posting. Any owner of property in the authority or person interested in the contract or proposed contract or in the premises may appear and move to dismiss or answer said petition at any time prior to the date fixed for said hearing or within such further time as may be allowed by the court; and the petition shall be taken as confessed by all persons who fail so to appear.