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Introductory. 
We visited the Hawkesbury district in December, 1894, and in March last. The local timber 
suppliers distinguish two turpentine timbers (botanically identical) in this district, viz. :—The swamp 
turpentine, growing on the flats, and also the hill turpentine, which latter they consider the better timber 
of the two in point of durability. 
In June-July of this year we made most careful investigations at all the timber centres between 
Hexham and Kempsev, interviewing the timber suppliers, owners of saw mills, and residents of the different 
districts, inspecting several bridges and jetties where turpentine timber was in use, visiting the various 
forests containing turpentine timber, and having several trees felled for our inspection. 
The evidence we obtained from many of the leading timber suppliers is of a most conflicting nature, 
rendering our task of sifting it no easy one. As the bulk of the piles and girders of turpentine used in 
public works is supplied from the districts we traversed, we deemed it advisable to make every effort to 
arrive at a satisfactory solution of the following important points :— 
1st. Does the true turpentine resist the attacks of cobra when used in piles, girders, &c., in public 
works ? 
2nd. Are there two varieties of turpentine timber, one cobra-resisting, the other not ? 
3rd. Have any other timbers been substituted for turpentine timber and used for piles, <fcc. ? 
We propose herewith to submit notes on various points connected with the turpentine question 
and, at the close of our report, to submit our recommendations and findings. 
II.— Characteristics of Turpentine Timber. 
The following notes may be convenient :—Turpentine is, for a hardwood, soft when green, but hard 
when dry. It is of a sandy or gritty nature, rapidly dulling the saws ; hence saw-millers do not like it. 
It splits and shrinks badly in sawn sizes free from bark, unless some attention is given to seasoning it. 
It is very durable when placed in the ground, and a great recommendation for many purposes is 
the difficulty of burning it. 
An illustrated article on the subject will be found in the Agricultural Gazette for July, 1894, so 
that it may not be necessary to amplify the above particulars. 
III.— Black and Red Turpentine. 
At a very early stage of our inquiry we found it necessary to clearly understand what are the 
differences between black and red turpentine. The terms are not used in all parts of the Colony, the 
word “turpentine” being simply employed in some places. No one whom we questioned knew what 
differences in the trees corresponded to differences in the colour and appearance of the timber, although 
two different kinds of turpentine were recognised readily enough in most districts. 
Black turpentine was originally so called to distinguish it from white turpentine, an old name of 
tallow-wood, a name which still lingers in the Port Stephens district amongst the old bands. 
We felled turpentines growing a few yards from each other. The timber of small, youngish trees 
is of a fresh, sound, light red colour, and the timber is known as red turpentine, while the timber of the 
very old and large trees is of various shades of dark red up to purple brown, chocolate, and nearly black ; 
this is black turpentine. There is no botanical difference between them ; they simply present, in our 
opinion, different stages of growth or maturity of the same timber. We look upon black turpentine as 
over-matured timber, and perhaps in some cases the product of trees which have been injured, or whose 
growth has been interfered with in some way. We look upon red turpentine as timber thoroughly sound 
and full of life. In the Port Macquarie district we found it recognised that the bark of red turpentine is 
tougher, and the oleo-resin far more abundant than in the black. 
Black turpentine is usually used for punt-bottoms, because of its size; red turpentine for piles.* 
* As a rule this diversity of colour applies only to the fresh timber, all turpentine tending to dry to a uniform 
lightness of colour. 
