19 
It is said to be comparatively soft and brittle, but perhaps there is some 
mistake in this, as I have always found it to be as hard as the average myrtaceous 
timbers, and it is not brittle when the sap-wood is removed. In Professor Warren’s 
work on Australian Timbers there are a number of tests of the strength of this 
timber. 
Like many other myrtaceous timbers, such as myrtles, turpentine is very 
liable to rend in drying. It also warps when much exposed, unless seasoned with 
unusual care; this is a drawback to its use for uprights in buildings. In the 
Jurors’ Reports, London International Exhibition of 1862, it is stated to be “the 
best wood for railway sleepers.” At the present day, however, it is never knowingly 
used for such a purpose, its tendency to warp and rend being against it. Mr. 
Rudder, however, states that its tendency to warp as sawn stuff is “entirely 
obviated by a few weeks’ soakage in water, and I have seen it after this treatment 
free from cracks. It steams remarkably well, so much so, that I have observed 
stout planking successfully turned edgeways at an angle of over 30 degrees.” 
It is very abundant, as its chief utilisation at the present time is for piles and 
hewn posts and rails, since saw-millers dislike it exceedingly, as it rapidly dulls their 
saws. It would be very desirable to subject it to proper microscopic examination ; 
possibly this might throw light upon this property of turpentine. It is not easy to 
burn, except with a good draught. In such situations as pillars, girders, &c., in 
buildings it usually only chars,and is in consequence easily extinguished—a very useful 
property in buildings. I was informed that, in a very large fire in Sydney, surprise 
was expressed that the building was not gutted, for the wooden girders and joists were 
put to a very severe test. It was believed that the girders were ironbark, and they 
were so specified, but the contractor substituted turpentine without anyone being 
any the wiser. This pious fraud was, however, the means of minimising the 
destructive effects of the fire. It is very resistant to white ant, but it must be 
remembered that no timber is absolutely white-ant proof, as white ants, if put to it, 
will probably eat any timber on the face of the globe. To sum up, its chief recom¬ 
mendation is its durability, resisting decay in the ground, whether from white ant 
or other causes, while it is one of the best timbers we have for resisting marine 
borers, especially if the bark be intact. It is very difficult to burn, a great recom¬ 
mendation to its use in buildings. It will thus be seen that the properties of 
turpentine, those at least which give it its value, are mostly of a negative character. 
Its principal use is, besides those indicated in the foregoing paragraphs, as 
a second-class timber for wood-paving. 
At this place I give the substance of a report on this timber, particularly 
with reference to its resistance to Cobra (Teredo) made by Mr. J. V. de Coque and 
myself, and ordered by the Legislative Assembly to he printed on the 20th October, 
1895. 
