XXIII.] KARL 239 



The wood is red in colour, hard, heavy, strong, 

 tough, and slightly wavy or curled in the grain, but it 

 has no figure to recommend it for cabinet purposes. 

 Six logs of this timber, viz., two of 12" x 12" x 28', one 

 of 12" X 12" X 34', two of 24" X 24" X 24', and one of 

 24" X 24" X 32', were recently shipped at Freemantle 

 by the Western Australian Government for delivery at 

 one of the royal dockyards in England, for experimental 

 trial in the navy, the colonists being of opinion that it 

 will ere long be in great request for ship-building and 

 other architectural works. Unfortunately, however, all 

 these logs had the defect of star-shake, which rendered 

 them unfit for almost any purpose except where they 

 could be employed in very large scantlings. 



It was also noticed that the Kari had the peculiar 

 blistery appearance of the annual layers which has 

 been mentioned as common to the Jarrah, consequently 

 this wood is not considered to be suitable for any work 

 requiring nicety of finish, although no doubt it would be 

 admirably suitable for piles for jetties, bridges, &c., and 

 generally for heavy structures where large scantlings and 

 great strength is required. It will not last between wind 

 and earth, though, as far as is yet known, it resists the 

 action of water. It is, moreover, more difficult to work 

 than Jarrah, and does not finish well in the moulding 

 and planing machine. 



It is much to be regretted that a tree so noble in its 

 dimensions should prove so disappointing in its character; 

 but, like the Jarrah, to which it has some resemblance, it 

 is not, I think, likely to be in request for architectural 

 works in this country. 



