may be used for either. I consider that the chloride of zinc process is the most suitable 

 for Natal, on account of its efficacity and small cost, but it may be changed to creosoting 

 without altering the works if it is judged necessary to try creosoting for purposes of 

 comparison. It is not likely, however, that creosoting would meet with much favour ; it 

 is a dangerous process ; the creosote has to be brought out in special vessels j and th 

 stacked timber becomes highly inflammable ; while with chloride of zinc, the wood is 

 rendered incombustible and the salt may be brought out as ordinary cargo. The 

 superiority of the chloride of zinc process over creosoting is still greater in Natal than in 

 Europe, on account of the saving in freight, half a pound of chloride of zinc answering 



the purposes of ten pounds of creosote. 



The machinery required would consist of a cylinder in which the wood is placed, 



iron store tanks for the chloride of zinc solution, a steam engine fitted with air and 

 forcing pumps, a boiler with mountings, wagons, rails, and other fittings. The cost of 

 machinery with a cylinder 60 feet long and 6 feet in diameter was estimated at 1,349, 

 delivered in London, by Messrs. Cowans and Sheldon and Co., of Carlisle, in 1884. At 

 Knysna the total cost of the works, comprising buildings, machinery, fittings, &c., has 

 been between two and three thousand pounds. The machinery includes an adzing 

 machine and additional steam engine for adzing the sleepers to suit the tilt of the rails. 

 225 sleepers are treated in the cylinder at each charge, and the cylinder may be charged 



three or four times a day. 



Works of this kind are very convenient to prepare timber used in public works of 



every kind, and the cylinder should be large enough to take the largest pieces of timber 

 required to be treated ; otherwise, a cylinder of smaller dimensions and machinery of less 

 cost would be sufficient for the preparation of sleepers alone. 



I do not think Durban would be as convenient a centre to place these works at, as 

 Maritzburg, on account of the increased average cost of transport that would result. Most 

 of the forests from which timber may be derived are nearer Maritzburg than Durban, and 

 Maritzburg is a more central station to distribute the sleepers from. 



CONTRACTS FOR SLEEPERS. After the forests have been sectioned and are ready for 

 working, contracts should be entered into for the supply of sleepers, whether from Crown 

 or private forests. The same price may be given in both cases. Each tender should be 

 for not less than 500 sleepers, and the price paid should not exceed the cost of imported 

 sleepers delivered at Maritzburg, less the cost of preparation. Probably the full price 

 would have to be paid at first, on account of the novelty of the undertaking, but it might 

 be gradually lessened as the work progresses. 



By entering into small as well as large contracts, wood cutters are enabled to tender 

 and competition becomes more effective. Separate tenders should be called : 



1. For the supply and delivery of Hard woods, not requiring to be prepared. 



2. For the supply and delivery of Soft woods, requiring to be impregnated. 



