the timbers of new south wales. 197 



Hardwood in Parquet Flooring. 



It speaks well for the enterprise of Mr. Raht, the architect for 

 the Equitable Life Assurance Society's building now in course of 

 erection in George Street, that he has decided to lay the parquet 

 flooring of hardwood in lieu of imported timber. This kind of 

 flooring, although new to the Colonies, is much in use in America. 



The timber used in this instance is tallow wood, supplied by 

 the Federal Timber Company from their Northern Mills, the 

 quantity required being 40,000 superficial feet, and it is seasoned 

 by the steam and hot air drying process in Victoria. We have 

 actually to send our timbers to another colony to get them 

 seasoned ! 



The tallow wood is cut into lengths not exceeding two feet and 

 laid in squares, each piece being grooved and dressed as shown 

 in sketch — 



SECTION OF EACH PIECE. 



3: 



* 



S 



The timber is laid on a concrete floor on heated bitumen -J" thick. 

 When each two pieces come together the V joint forms a dovetail 

 which enables the bitumen to curl up and secure them together 

 firmly. This system dispenses with the ordinary plan of nailing 

 each board, and produces a perfect floor. 



It requires ten pounds of bitumen for each square yard of 

 flooring. The cost of bitumen in this Colony is £20 (twenty 

 pounds) per ton. This class of flooring when complete, costs 

 irrespective of concrete, about 12/- (twelve shillings) per square 

 yard, but no doubt when the principle is better known and the 

 seasoning of the timber can be satisfactorily carried out in this 



