§ (2.) Upon compliance with the provisions hereinbefore contained with respect to advertisements and notices, the local authority or County Council, as the case may be, may, if they shall think fit, present a petition to the Board, the petition shall state the land intended to be taken, and the purposes for which it is required, and the names of the owners, lessees, and occupiers of land who have assented, dissented, or are neuter in respect of the taking of such land, or who have returned no answer to the notice; it shall pray that the local authority or County Council may, with reference to such land, be allowed to put in force the powers of the Lands Clauses Acts with respect to the purchase and taking of land otherwise than by agreement, and such prayer shall be supported by such evidence as the Board requires.