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I remember to have seen in one of the Royal Dockyards some extremely long and broad planks, 
or thick stuff, of this description of timber, which had been apparently flitched from some of the hollow 
trees before referred to. These, after being kept to season for a while, warped and split to such an excessive 
degree that it was impossible to use them for any planking purpose whatever. In consequence of this 
defect it was found necessary to reduce the planks to very short lengths, in order to utilize them at all, 
and so they passed to quite inferior services. 
A specimen log of Blue Gum, 31 feet by 24 by 28 inches, was forwarded with other woods to the London 
Exhibition of 1862 by the Tasmanian Commissioners, and this, at the close of the Exhibition, was transferred 
to the Woolwich Dockyard for trial, experimentally, in ship-building. It came in, however, too late, 
just when wood was giving place to iron in this branch of architecture, so that no favourable opportunity 
ever offered for its employment. This log, although of very large dimensions, had been cut clear of the 
centre, and very probably had formed part of one of the hollow trees before alluded to, consequently the 
tree to which it belonged must have been at least 6 to 7 feet in diameter. A plank 6 inches thick was cut 
from it, which quickly warped or twisted 2 inches, and ultimately went to 3 inches, and stood at that in 
1870. Upon examination then, it was found to be full of deep, fine shakes, but otherwise it was not much 
changed, and there were no signs whatever of decay, although it had for a long time been exposed to the 
weather. It seems, therefore, likely to be a durable wood. 
In the Tumberumba district of New South Wales it is valued highly and largely 
used in tail-races for mining purposes, also for bridge decking and girders. It is not 
quite so free in the grain as the Victorian timber, which opens up from the heart in a 
surprising manner. I have seen a round log in the Otway Forest, Victoria, 20 feet 
long and 3 feet through, split open from end to end after the first 3 feet of it had been 
entered with a circular saw. 
Except in the district where it grows it is but little known in New South Wales, 
and once it fell into disrepute owing to its being mistaken for the local Messmate 
(E. obliqua), a timber lacking strength and durability, but resembling it in colour. 
(J. V. de Coque.) 
A Tasmanian official report says, " It produces a hard and heavy timber, very durable, and taking 
a high polish. It is stronger than English Oak, and may be used advantageously for any purpose for which 
Oak is used, i.e., for building ships, jetties, bridges, house-frames, wagons, carts, plough and tool handles 
of all kinds. The grain is interlocked, so that it makes good felloes for wheels and railway sleepers. The 
young wood is straighter in the grain, and very suitable for cart-shafts and anything that requires toughness, 
spring, and elasticity." 
Mr. John Bradley, a Tasmanian expert, says, " Abounds in the south of Tasmania only, and can 
be delivered in any of the colonies at a reasonable cost. It can be got of any reasonable length and size, 
and if fairly well seasoned before being used, is one of the strongest and most durable woods in the world. 
It is of great value in connection with ship-building, bridges, and railway works generally. One good 
quality especially may be mentioned, viz., that if seasoned and used as ship-planking the bottoms of vessels 
in which it has been so used seldom or never require re-caulking. The timber must, however, be cut clear 
of the heart. Keels for wooden vessels, or girders for bridges, can be obtained about 150 feet long if 
required. Tree-nails made of Blue Gum were formerly much sought after in England for use in the 
construction of wooden ships." 
Following is a Victorian report, and incidentally it may be pointed out that the 
reputation of E. globutus timber has often suffered through substitution :- 
The Blue Gum (E. gkbulus) is so well known that it would appear at first sight that no mistake 
could well be made in regard to it. Yet this tree has undeservedly come to be in bad repute, probably by 
reason of the substitution of inferior timber. In the Warragul district I have seen the Swamp Gum 
(E. ovoid), which is one of our most worthless timbers, cut for sale as " Blue Gum." E. viminalis (the 
River White Gum) has also within my knowledge been similarly substituted. Very commonly the Spotted 
