§ 7-b. Continuance of out of court proceedings before judges of same court. At any stage of a special proceeding instituted before a judge of a court of record out of court, or a proceeding commenced before a judge out of court in an action or special proceeding pending in a court of record, such proceeding or special proceeding may be continued before any other judge of the same court, who may exercise all powers in the matter as if it had been originally instituted before him.