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portions of the bodies of vehicles, wheelwrighting, farm implements, boat timbers, tip waggons, railway 
buildings, railway and other bridges (laminated arches of railway bridges, sheeting, wings, wales and 
decking, hand-railing, braces, ballast guards, walings, girders). 
Spotted Gum is largely replacing American Hickory in the coach factories along the coast for 
waggons, buggies, sulkies, etc., and large orders are being filled for coach factories in Sydney and elsewhere, 
care being taken to cut the timber free from sap, heart, and gum-veins. 
Uses for which Spotted Gum is recommended by our Correspondents. 
There is no difference of opinion as to its value for inside work for coach builders’ purposes, and for 
such purposes as levers and handles, and rods for artesian bores, where great strength and elasticity are 
required. 
In coachbuilding in this State, Spotted Gum has largely superseded Hickory, as already stated, 
and although not quite so elastic and strong as the best Hickory, is a very good substitute and cheaper. 
Providing timber is matured and free from sap, no more suitable timber can be used for railway 
timber can be used for railway waggon building in Europe. Its strength and elasticity make it excellent 
for the purpose, particularly as railway engineers at home object to Ironbark owing to its excessive weight. 
They constantly ask for suitable hardwoods of less weight. The objection to the use of Blackbutt for the 
purpose is the presence of concentric gum-veins and its more fissile nature generally. The Hawkesbury 
and Singleton Spotted Gum are excellent as regards freedom from gum-veins, We have also seen Spotted 
Gum from the South Coast comparatively free from the same. 
As regards outside work, its value for fence-rails is indisputable, while it bears a good reputation 
for deck-planking, as already spoken of in allusion to its durability. 
Spotted Gum particularly considered with respect to its fitness or otherwise for Paving. 
Hardly any situation affords so severe a test of the durability of a timber as paving. A wood 
pavement is constantly watered and in contact with decaying vegetable matter. It is, therefore, desirable 
that the blocks should be as well-seasoned as practicable, in order to reduce the liability of fungus growths 
to attack the tissues of the wood. On the other hand, we must guard against over-seasoning, which would 
result in the blocks absorbing an inordinate proportion of water, which would cause them to swell, to the 
destruction of the pavement, and perhaps the causing of injuries to buildings, tram-lines, etc. 
Spotted Gum (like other hardwoods) is, when cut at the mills, immediately loaded into vessels. 
When landed in Sydney, the lengths are cut at once into blocks, and if at once placed in the streets, are as 
free to decay through the sap being unable to escape as are all other hardwoods. 
The balance of evidence is strongly in favour of the use of Spotted Gum for planking and decking, 
but as regards paving-blocks we have very little information in these replies. 
Mr. Gustave Fischer, Mr. R. W. Richards, and Mr. Moir, who have used it in the Sydney streets, 
are not in favour of it. Mr. Richards, in a Report* to the Forest Department, under date 31st October, 
1893, states, page 2 :—“The wearing surfaces of the blocks of Spotted Gum from King-street were thickly 
impregnated with gravel and extraneous matter, causing an irregularity of surface, the sides of the block 
in section showing a quick intention to split, the top edges of wearing surfaces were frayed over on each 
side for about one quarter of an inch in plan and section. Spotted Gum is a treacherous timber to deal 
with, inasmuch as if the tree is not fully matured, the blocks therefrom, painted with tar, laid in the work, 
enclosed air-tight, prevent the sap from escaping, and its fermentation sets up ‘ dry-rot.’ This has 
occurred in many instances, and as one block is attacked dry-rot spreads throughout those adjacent. A 
sample block showing this decay is forwarded herewith.” Again, page 10:—“My experience of Spotted 
Gum leads me to advise that the use of this wood be discontinued.” 
The same gentleman has also courteously replied to our schedule of questions (Appendix A.f), in 
which he still holds to his adverse opinion. So strong a condemnation, coming from such an important 
source, requires our careful consideration. We find, however, after examining over 200 wood-blocks, 
which were recently removed from various streets in Sydney, about 150 of which were presented (labelled 
as to class) to the Department of Forests, by the City Surveyor, that the names given on the labels arc in 
some instances incorrect. 
0 “Wood l’avements in Sydney, 1880-1893.” Fcap., Sydney, n.d. (1894). 
f Not reproduced. 
