The said board is hereby authorized and empowered to take conveyances or contracts for all property or rights acquired by it under the provisions of this act [73-12-1 to 73-12-57 NMSA 1978] in the name of such irrigation district to and for the purposes herein expressed, and to institute and maintain any and all actions, proceedings and suits at law or in equity, necessary or proper in order to fully carry out the provisions of this act, or to enforce, maintain, protect or preserve any or all rights, privileges and immunities created by this act or acquired in pursuance thereof. And in all courts, actions, suits or proceedings the said board may sue, appear and defend in person or by attorneys and in the name of such irrigation district. Judicial notice shall be taken in all actions, suits and proceedings in any court of this state of the organization and existence of any irrigation district in this state now or hereafter organized, from and after the filing for record in the office of the county clerk of the certified copy of the order of the board of county commissioners mentioned in Section 6 [73-12-6 NMSA 1978] of this act; and a certified copy of said order shall be prima facie evidence in all actions, suits and proceedings in any court in this state of the regularity and legal sufficiency of all acts, matters and proceedings therein recited and set forth; and any such irrigation district, in regard to which any such order has been heretofore or may hereafter be entered, and such certified copy thereof so filed for record, and which has exercised or shall exercise rights and powers of such district, and shall have had or shall have in office a board of directors exercising the duties of their office and the legality or regularity of the formation or organization whereof shall not have been questioned by proceedings in quo warranto instituted in the district court of the county in which such district or the greater portion thereof is situated within one year from the date of such filing, shall be conclusively deemed to be a legally and regularly organized, established and existing irrigation district within the meaning of this act, and its due and lawful formation and organization shall not thereafter be questioned in any action, suit or proceeding whether brought under the provisions of this act or otherwise.
History: Laws 1929, ch. 76, § 14; C.S. 1929, § 73-714; 1941 Comp., § 77-2414; 1953 Comp., § 75-25-14.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 45 Am. Jur. 2d Irrigation § 91.
94 C.J.S. Waters § 316.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 73 - Special Districts
Article 12 - Electrical Irrigation Districts
Section 73-12-1 - Majority of the resident freeholders may propose district.
Section 73-12-3 - Notice of hearing on petition to be published.
Section 73-12-4 - Petition hearing; objections; boundaries; election; appeals.
Section 73-12-5 - Notice of election; qualification of electors; election procedure.
Section 73-12-6 - Canvass of votes, by board of county commissioners.
Section 73-12-7 - Regular elections of district; oath of office and bond of directors.
Section 73-12-8 - Office of board; subsequent elections.
Section 73-12-9 - The election board; oath of judges; polls kept open.
Section 73-12-10 - Returns canvassed by board of directors.
Section 73-12-11 - Secretary to certify results of election to county clerk.
Section 73-12-16 - Sale of bonds; refunding bonds; use of bonds.
Section 73-12-19 - Duties of county assessor.
Section 73-12-20 - Board of county commissioners to fix rate per-acre levy.
Section 73-12-21 - Duties of county treasurer.
Section 73-12-22 - Revenue laws of state to govern; may refuse service to delinquents.
Section 73-12-23 - Construction and material contracts to be let to lowest bidder.
Section 73-12-26 - Right of eminent domain.
Section 73-12-27 - Compensation of board; members may not be interested in any contract.
Section 73-12-28 - Board of directors have no power to incur debt other than provided in this act.
Section 73-12-29 - Manner of distribution of power or water.
Section 73-12-30 - Prior water rights not affected.
Section 73-12-31 - Boundaries may be changed, but such change shall not affect obligations incurred.
Section 73-12-32 - Petition for inclusion of land.
Section 73-12-33 - Notice of application for inclusion of land to be published.
Section 73-12-34 - Hearing on petition for inclusion of land.
Section 73-12-35 - Terms on which lands may be included.
Section 73-12-37 - Board to transmit order and plat of new boundaries to county clerk.
Section 73-12-38 - Authority to sign petition of protest.
Section 73-12-39 - Board may redivide district for election purposes [after inclusion of land].
Section 73-12-40 - Land may be excluded from district.
Section 73-12-41 - Owner shall file petition for exclusion.
Section 73-12-42 - Publish notice of petition for exclusion.
Section 73-12-43 - Board shall consider petition for exclusion.
Section 73-12-44 - Board shall act on petition for exclusion.
Section 73-12-45 - Order making change and plat to be transmitted to county clerk.
Section 73-12-46 - Board may redivide district for election purposes [after exclusion of land].
Section 73-12-48 - District shall pay tax on gross revenue derived from sales of surplus power.
Section 73-12-49 - Petition for dissolution of district; election thereon.
Section 73-12-50 - Vote on dissolution to be canvassed.
Section 73-12-51 - Confirmation proceedings may be brought.
Section 73-12-52 - Petition to be filed in district court.
Section 73-12-53 - Court to fix time for hearing and publish notice thereof.
Section 73-12-54 - Provisions of Civil Code shall apply; effect of findings of court.
Section 73-12-55 - The court's findings of fact and conclusions of law; judgment res judicata.