89 



It is said to be comparatively soft and brittle, but perhaps there is some 

 mistake in this, as I have always found it to be as hard as the average- 

 myrtaceous timbers, and it is not brittle when the sapwood is removed. In 

 Professor Warren's work on Australian Timbers there are a number of testa. 

 of the strength of this timber. 



Like many other myrtaceous timbers, such as myrtles, turpentine is very 

 liable to rend in drying. It also warps when much exposed, unless seasoned 

 with unusual care; this is a drawback to its use for uprights in buildings. 

 In the Jurors' Reports, London International Exhibition of 1862, it is 

 stated to be u the best wood for railway sleepers." At the present day, 

 . however, it is never knowingly used for such a purpose, its tendency to warp 

 and rend being against it. Air. Rudder, however, states that its tendency to 

 warp as sawn stuff is "entirely obviated by a few weeks' soakage in water,. 

 and I have seen it after this treatment free from cracks. It steams remark- 

 ably well, so much so, that I have observed stout planking successfully 

 turned edgeways at an angle of over 30 degrees." 



It is very abundant, as its chief utilisation at the present time is for piles 

 and hewn posts and rails, since saw-millers dislike it exceedingly, as it 

 rapidly dulls their saws. It would be very desirable to subject it to proper 

 microscopic examination ; possibly this might throw light upon this property 

 of 'turpentine. It is not easy to burn, except with a good draught. In such. 

 situations as pillars, girders, &c., in building's it usiially only chars, and is- 

 in consequence easily extinguished a very useful property in buildings. I 

 was informed that, in a very large fire in Sydney, surprise was expressed 

 that the building was not gutted, for the wooden girders and joists were- 

 put to a very severe test. It was believed that the girders were ironbark,. 

 and they were so specified, but the contractor substituted turpentine without 

 anyone being any the wiser. This pious fraud was, however, the means of 

 minimising the destructive effects -of the fire. It is very resistant to white 

 ant, but it must be remembered that no timber is absolutely white-ant proof,, 

 as white ants, if put to it, will probably eat any timber on the face of the 

 globe. To sum up, its chief recommendation is its durability, resisting 

 decay in the ground, whether from white ant or other causes, while it is one 

 of the best timbers we have for resisting marine borers, especially if the 

 bark be intact. It is very difficult to burn, a great recommendation to its 

 use in buildings. It will thus be seen that the properties of turpentine,, 

 those at least which give it its value, are mostly of a negative character. 



Its principal use is, besides those indicated in the foregoing paragraphs,, 

 as a second-class timber for wood-paving. 



At this place I give the findings of the Report on this timber, particu- 

 larly with reference to its resistance to Cobra (Toredo) made by Mr. J. V. 

 de Coque and myself, and ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed" 

 on the 29th October, 1895. The greater part of the Report was reprinted in 

 my " Forest Flora of New South Wales," Part I. 



STMMAEY OF FINDINGS AND KECOMMENDATIONS. 



To the 1st Question, Does the true turpentine resist the attacks of cobra 

 when used in piles, girders. &c.. and in public works? 



Our answer is that turpentine is not an absolute resistant to cobra, either 

 in pure salt water or in tidal waters, whether the bark is on or not. The 

 turpentine will resist the cobra as well, or better, than any other hardwood,, 

 providing the bark remains uninjured. 



