In case of failure or refusal on the part of any person to comply with any subpoena issued by said state engineer or his appointed examiner, or on the refusal of any witnesses to testify or to answer as to any matters regarding which he may be lawfully interogated [interrogated], the judge of any district court in this state, on application of the state engineer, may issue an attachment for such person and compel him to comply with such subpoena and to attend before the state engineer or his appointed examiner and produce such documents, and give his testimony upon such matters as may be lawfully required, and the judge shall have the power to punish for contempt as in the case of disobedience of a like subpoena issued by or from a district court or a refusal to testify therein.