As an ex-sawmiller, contractor, and bridge builder, I do not hesitate to recommend its use as 
girders, corbels, wales, braces, and decking on all top work requiring durability and tensile strength. 
Builders like it because it is easily worked, and, without boring, it will not split when large nails or spikes 
are driven into it. I have seen many instances of its durability in the ground, and believe it would make 
a good pile or sleeper ; but I do not recommend its use for those purposes, because we have' growing in the 
same locality the Messmate (E. amyyrlalina), which has no superior as a pile (not even ironbark). T have 
samples of Messmate now in my office, which are known to have been in and on the ground forty-five 
years, and have not even started to decay. For anotber reason, I believe Mountain Ash to be too valuable 
to be used for squaring into sleepers and cut under-sized for piles, because I believe it will in the near 
future be recognised as one of the very best timbers, only inferior to American hickory for one or two 
special purposes, and superior to that timber in every other respect, as it is lighter, more elastic, and for 
bending purposes has few equals, and no superior. 
It will bend to any shape, and no matter how thoroughly dried will retain all its elasticity, and its 
fibre is practically non-perishable. It makes the best snow-shoes, and timber for that purpose is annually 
sent to Sweden and Norway. Boat oars made at laurel, up to 28 feet long, have a world-wide reputation, 
and are pronounced by experts in all the principal seaports to have no equal. 
Window-frames, sashes, and doors, hand-made over fifty years ago, are still in buildings here. 
Tool handles of all descriptions are made at Laurel Hill factory, sent all over the world, and the demand 
cannot be met. Wine casks made of it over forty years ago are still in use at Albury. When thoroughly 
dry it is tasteless and stainless, and would he suitable for butter boxes or any kind of box requiring 
lightness, durability, and strength. 
For backs of brushes, furniture, cabinet-making, and all kinds of turnery it is unsurpassed, takes a 
high polish, and shows good figure. Heavy waggons, light sulkies, and buggits are made of it. A waggon 
made nine years ago is now hauling sleepers to the Tumbarutnba Railway. A sulky now at Laurel Hill, 
made entirely of Mountain Ash, and in constant use for fourteen years, is still as good as new. I have 
noticed that in a few instances where it has not given satisfaction in the ground the timber has been from 
very young trees felled in the spring, and put on the market right away. This is a test that no timber 
will stand. From experiments I have made I find that timber from trees felled in the winter and autumn, 
and allowed to season in the I6g for a few months, will not shrink. 
Size. It is one of the largest of our trees, and trees up to 150 feet in height 
are not uncommon. 
Habitat. Found in Tasmania, north-eastern Victoria, and south-eastern 
New South Wales. In the two latter States it is confined to high elevations, and 
in Tasmania it is usually found high up, but it descends to 1,500 feet at Mount 
Wellington, and to 500 feet at Russell Falls River, and perhaps even lower. As a 
rule, it is found at higher elevations than is E. obliqua. In Victoria, it is found in 
the Australian Alps, and as far south as Mount Donna Buang. 
In New South Wales it occurs in the Snowy Mountains and the Australian 
Alps, also at elevations not much below 4,000 feet over a fairly wide area. Specific 
localities are Delegate Mountain, Tumberuinba district generally, while it is found 
as far north as Brindabella-road, Queanbeyan. 
" Found in volcanic soil in the winter snow-clad tableland commencing at 
Laurel Hill, extending in huge belts many miles in extent, via Tumbarumba, 
Neurenmerrenmong, Lobb's Hole, and Kiandra, almost to the foot of Kosciusko, a 
piece of practically unoccupied Crown lands from 6 to 30 miles wide and 90 miles 
long. It is found all over the southern tableland on an area of about half a million 
acres, with, of course, breaks of Snow and Mountain Gum. f am sure, however, 
