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IV.— Miscellaneous Notes on Turpentine , chiefly obtained on the Northern Hivers. 
The following notes on turpentine, with especial reference to its powers of resistance to cobra, will 
be found interesting, although somewhat contradictory :— 
Turpentine is excellent for the bottoms of punts ; it is put in green, and coppered. (Mr. 
Breckenridge, Failford.) 
Mr. J. Wright, Tuncurry, prefers red turpentine to black. Turpentine piles at Mr. Wright’s 
wharf have been eaten off by cobra in ten and a half years. 
Mr. Miles, Forster, says that the black turpentine is more cobra-resistant than the red turpentine. 
The wharf at Ghinni Ghinni, on the Manning Biver, built about four years ago, has the turpentine 
piles now nearly eaten through. These piles were obtained from Sandy Creek, about 3 miles north-west 
of Wingham. The timber-getter who procured these piles states :—“ I have also used turpentine timber 
that was got on the Lower Manning to build a punt with, and it did not resist the cobra.” 
Mr. Walters, of Coopernook, writes :—“ I know you are aware there are two kinds of turpentine, 
viz., red and black ; both kinds are used in Sydney Harbour. I say the black is 50 per cent, before the 
red for piles, and yet the Department uses both kinds, and does not make any objection to contractors 
using the red kind as well as the black.” 
Mr. Walters further states that black turpentine is difficult to cut, and ruins the saws. He will 
have nothing to do with it, while red turpentine readily cuts—cuts like cheese. Mr. Walters coppers 
his punts. 
The following correspondence and notes in regard to red and black turpentine are interesting :— 
Messrs. Mackay and Bibby, of the Laurieton Steam Sawmills, write to Mr. Forester Brown of Port 
Macquarie :—“ In reply to your inquiry as to why some piles said to be turpentine are fairly free from 
cobra, whilst others are riddled with them, the matter is, I think, easily explained. There are two distinct 
kinds of turpentine, viz., red and black, and as I have used both I am in a position to say positively that 
black turpentine for piles is practically useless, and the cobra will attack it freely, whilst red turpentine 
will resist cobra for years, and very rarely enter further than the sap. These facts have come under my 
personal observation during the last twelve years. I find also that red mahogany and tallow-wood are good 
woods in the water, but of course not equal to turpentine.” In conversation with us Mr. Mackay stated 
that “black turpentine should always be discarded, as it has not a quarter the life of the other.” 
The same gentleman looks upon black turpentine as an abnormal or diseased state of red turpentine. 
Mr. Johnston, of Wauchope Sawmill, states that he built a steam-punt (the “Maori ”) for logs for 
Messrs. Mackay and Bibby, of Laurieton, the flat bottom of forest turpentine ( Syncarpia lauriflolia). He 
called it “ black turpentine.” He saw the timber growing himself ; got it under North Brother Mountain 
at Laurieton. The punt has been cleaned every year, and has lasted now eleven years free from cobra. 
Also that there had been no borer in it up to five years in use. 
To this statement Mr. Mackay replies“ I cannot tell you the difference between the black and 
the red wood either by the leaves or bark; but I am sure Mr. Johnston is mistaken about the black 
turpentine being used in the steam punt he built so long ago. That punt is still at work, and was on our 
slip last Christmas, and the planks were apparently as good as when they were first built. I am sure that 
the black turpentine is not what we get for planking and piles.” 
Mr. Laurie agrees with Mr. Mackay that the red timber is the better—has more oleo-resin. 
The life of turpentine piles was stated to us to be ten years at Laurieton. We saw turpentine 
piles at Laurieton saw-mills down five years. They had been only superficially injured then. At the same 
time we were informed that turpentine is hardly more durable than many other timbers if the bark be 
stripped. Coppering is the only cure. 
Red turpentine is not only used here for piles, but also for punt bottoms, which are painted with 
copper paint about every twelve months. (Mackay.) 
We observed that the standing-ways for the punt slip at Laurieton were quite sound after having 
been down seven year's. They are of red turpentine. 
