87 



Numba has little or no sandy soil, but out " Warri Warri" — (this word, I 

 always think, is wrongly spelt, more likely a final " a " instead of " i " ; 

 " Warra Warra" means rain), — there are miles of sand; I have often seen the 

 Broad-leaved Tea-tree growing as I passed along. Again, on " Comarong 

 Island," between Numba and the sea, I find sand and the Tea-trees. 



It may be, of course, that the township was named Ifumba after the trees, 

 although Numba trees may not be on the. exact site of the township. 



It is " Belbowrie," or " Belbourie," of the county of Gloucester, as far as 

 Kempsey at least, hence the place-name Belbowrie, near Krambach, New, 

 South Wales. 



Leaves — Oil. — The young leaves are bruised in water and the liquid drunk 

 for headaches and colds, and general sickness; the bark is also used for 

 bedding, &c., on the Mitchell River, Queensland (E. Palmer). But by far 

 the most important use of this tree is for the oil the leaves contain; this is 

 the well-known " Cajeput oil " of commerce. 



Barh. — Several species of Melaleuca have a thin papery bark which tears 

 off in several layers. It is used, amongst other purposes, by the aboriginal 

 women to wrap their children in. Mr. W. Soutter, of Brisbane, has used 

 the ground paper bark of this tree for packing fruit for export. (See 

 Queensland Agricultural Journal, also Cape Agricultural Journal, 11th and 

 25th January, 1894.) 



Timber. — ^Exceedingly hard and cross-grained, almost imperishable in 

 moist places, but otherwise not of special merit, greatly used for ship 

 timbers, boat knees, and posts ; wood much resembling that of the Melaleucas 

 generally, very apt to cyack and fly open on drying. 



It is hard, fairly heavy, close-grained, and not unlike JIararie in texture ; it 

 makes a good club that drives well, and is of the right weight and toughnesw." 

 — (R. T. Baker, in Golf Illustrated, 28th July, 1905.) 



" Belbourie," or Broadleaf Tea-tree, makes excellent flooring and lining 

 boards, wears well under cover and keeps white appearance; crooks made 

 out of the roots very much used in building wooden vessels ; grows to 7 or S 

 feet girth, bark also iu layers similar to White Prickly Tea-tree. Both. kinds 

 practically white-ant resistant." — (Forest Guard JIcKinuou, Gulgong.) 



The timber splits fairly well, and is largely used for firewood at Ballina, 

 Pachmond River, N.S.W.— ( J.H.JI. ) 



Tea-tree (Melaleuca l-eucadcndron, var. lanrifolia). — A fairly large tree 

 having a white spongy bark, in very tliin paper-like layers. There ai'e numerous 

 varieties, most of which may be used for the purposes mentioned below. The 

 leaves of this variety are stiff and sharply-pointed. Wood of a grey colour. 



Used for piles and underground work (without removal of bark) ; and, wh°ii 

 thus completely buried in the ground for drainage purposes, they have been 

 known to last a number of years. When barked, the saplings are often usfd 

 in the round for rafters, &c., in outbuildings, and last a long time. — (Catal. 

 Queensland Forestry Museum, 1904.) 



Size. — Up to 40 or 50 feet, and a diameter of 1 or 2 feet in central and 

 coastal New South Wales, but attaining a largo size as Queensland is 

 approached. Mueller says it is the largest and straightest tree in the 

 Northern Territory. 



Habitat.— Fvom. the Shoalhaven River, New South Wales (I do not know 

 its furthest southern locality), north right along the coast, in moist sandy 

 localities, to Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory. Found also 

 111 Western Australia (its precise range I do not know), in New Caledonia, 

 4he whole Malayan Archipelago, and Burma. 



