158 
Timber. —Poliowing is the main portion of a Report on Spotted Gum, 
drawn up by Messrs. G. S. Cowdery, J. V. do Coque, and the author, a Committee 
appointed by the Minister for Mines and Agriculture to investigate it. The full 
report will be found in the Agricultural Gazette for April, 1896. 
The importance of a decision as to the merits of this timber, not only for wood-blocking purposes, 
but also as to its general utility in works of all descriptions, is apparent when we consider the large 
interests involved. This State is capable of supplying both the Sydney market and the markets of the 
world with an immense quantity of Spotted Gum timber for wood-paving and other purposes. 
Notwithstanding the fact that we have individually had considerable experience as regards the 
durability and general value of Spotted Gum, we have secured information as to the experience of many 
gentlemen—engineers in the Department of Public Works, as well as saw-millers, and others. These reports, 
we need hardly state, are highly valuable. 
Spotted Gum is a timber in regard to whose merits or demerits there exists very strongly-formed 
opinions, which are, in some cases, we are afraid, rather the result of tradition than of personal observation 
and experience. 
That Spotted Gum timber has been used in the past to a considerable extent in paving the streets 
of Sj’dney is beyond doubt. We have taken the precaution to secure and carefully examine a considerable 
number of blocks from various parts of the city, not only of Spotted Gum, but also (for purposes of 
comparison as regards durability) other hardwoods used for a similar purpose. We have devoted a 
considerable amount of time to the diagnosis of these different timbers, which has helped us considerably 
in arriving at a unanimous opinion. We recognise that there are conflicting interests involved in the 
Spotted Gum question. But the fact must be borne in mind that if the export trade of hardwoods, 
particularly for wood-blocking purposes, shall acquire, and continue to maintain, the dimensions we believe 
to be in store for it, we shall require all our suitable hardwoods for shipment, and we think that there will 
not only be lucrative employment for existing saw mills, but also for fresh ones in new forests in different 
parts of the State. 
It is hardly within the scope of our present inquiry for us to draw comparisons between each class 
of hardwoods as regards their merits for wood-blocks; but we have no hesitation in stating that Spotted 
Gum, subject to certain conditions which we shall enumerate, compares favourably with the other timbers 
we have examined, and we recommend its use for wood-blocking in Sydney, as well as for export, but 
subject to strict supervision as regards quality. 
Timbers mistaken for Spotted Gum. 
To add to the inherent difficulty of the subject, some of our correspondents are under the impression 
that the Spotted Gum of New South Wales (and Queensland) is identical with that of Victoria. The 
Spotted Gum of New South Wales ( Eucalyptus maculata) does not extend to Victoria, and the Victorian 
Spotted Gum, whose botanical name is Eucalyptus goniocalyx is an inferior timber to it. 
Another correspondent alludes to a bastard Spotted Gum at Orange, which is a most inferior 
timber; we know of others in the Mudgee and Queanbeyan districts, both nearly worthless timbers, and 
any impression that they were varieties of the true Spotted Gum would be injurious to the reputation of 
that timber. 
Mr. Forester MacDonald has seen the Smooth-barked Apple ( Angophora lanceolata ), which 
somewhat resembles the Spotted Gum in bark, cut up for Spotted Gum. Angophora timber is very inferior, 
and, if passed as Spotted Gum, would undoubtedly prejudicially affect opinion in regard to the merits of 
that timber. A certain amount of discrepancy in regard to reports is also to be accounted for by wrong 
diagnosis of timbers. Blackbutt, Stringybark, and even White Gum, of coarse, wavy grain, have all been 
sent to us as Spotted Gum, to which they bear a superficial resemblance more or less strong. 
Specific Uses to which Spotted Gum has been put. 
Our correspondents have used Spotted Gum for railway fencing, hammer and axe handles, way- 
levers, shipbuilding, paving-blocks, sleepers, decking and deck guards for bridges and wharfs, girders in 
bridge and flood openings, house carpentry, door-frames, sills and joists, buggy and dray shafts, and other 
