198 J. V. DE COQUE. 



Colony, the cost will be considerably reduced. There is a wide 

 scope for many beautiful designs of inlaying different timbers, 

 which only requires time and energy to develop. 



Hardwood Timbers for use in Shipbuilding. 

 Ironbark. — For keels, keelsons, bilge strokes, and stringers, 

 there is no timber to approach this. It is a remarkable fact that 

 notwithstanding its density and hardness it can be bent into any 

 reasonable shape when properly steamed, yet it quickly dries in 

 its bent position retaining its valuable properties uninjured. 



Blue Gum (E. saligna) — For planking of ships' bottoms etc.,. 

 this timber is the most suitable. 



Spotted Gum ranks next in order of merit. 



Blackbutt — though sometimes used, is only a third-rate timber 

 for this purpose, owing to its liability to split (when bent) along 

 the gum veins. 



Tea Tree is the most suitable timber for ships' timbers (knees, &c.) 



Swamp Mahogany is also an excellent timber for this work;, 

 both these timbers are wonderfully durable, resisting damp, and 

 are generally to be found perfectly sound to the last. 



Swamp Oak. — The heart of this timber is admirably suited for 

 ships' caulking mallets and lasts for years. 



Colonial Beech is the best timber growing in the Colony for 

 ships' decks, and is much in use. 



Hewn v. Sawn Hardwoods. 



It is a general rule for engineers and architects requiring girders 

 with the intention of using them in what is termed fine work, 

 that is planing and painting them before fitting them, to order 

 sawn timber, on the ground of economy to save dressing them 

 square to receive the plane. As a matter of fact a hewn piece 

 of timber shews very much less disposition to crack or shell than 

 a sawn one, and this I attribute to the closing or condensing of 



