25 
The late Dr. Joseph Bancroft stated that charcoal was made from Blood wood 
hark by the aborigines of Moreton Bay, and used by them as an antiseptic applica¬ 
tion to wounds. This paiticular species was chosen, I imagine, from the scaly 
nature of the bark, which facilitated charcoal-making. 
Timber. —It owes its name because of the large quantity of blood-like fluid 
(gum or kino) which exudes from the tree, and which, when indurated, forms the 
gum-veins so common in this timber. 
It is liable to shell concentrically, the spaces thus formed being often filled 
with the red astringent substance known as “ gum.” It is one of the most durable 
of all Australian timbers. It does not split at the ends when exposed to the sun, as 
many of our timbers do. It is valuable for such purposes as require a durable 
timber. Bor posts in the ground, and for use in culverts, it is all but imperish¬ 
able. The great drawback to this timber is its liability to gum-veins, but in spite of 
this I look upon much of the prejudice against Blood wood as unreasonable. It 
would be unacceptable for export, as we have abundance of better timbers, but 
I certainly think it ought to be used more than it is where readily available. 
Where not too defective, I should look upon it as an ideal timber for wood-paving. 
By too defective I refer to cases where the timber shells too much ; but the 
presence of gum-veins of moderate width, in timbers such as this and Grey Gum, I 
would not look upon as an important defect in wood-blocks, as this astringent 
“ gum ” tends to preserve the block rather than injure it. I have seen timber 
rejected for wood-blocks because of gum-scabs and gum-veins, which would, of 
course, be inadmissible in a furniture wood, for instance, but which would in no 
way be detrimental to a wood-pavement. The scrupulous care which is insisted 
upon in some contracts to reject wood-blocks because of gum-veins, sometimes 
degenerates into mere faddism, and it is only possible to select so severely, 
because at present we have an enormous timber supply to fall hack upon. I 
would, therefore, recommend the framing of wood-block contracts in such a way 
as to allow the inspecting officer some latitude in dealing with timber containing 
gum-veins. 
i 
Used for posts, naves, &c., also for small culverts. I would like to see it 
used increasingly for such work as this; it would economise ironbark. It is very 
resistant to white ant. The old wharf at Port Macquarie is laid without piles, with 
Bloodwood stringers and Bloodwood bed, which have been down forty years, and are 
now perfectly sound. 
It is stated to be the most durable timber in the Cape Ilawke district. When 
it shells, it is of course useless, but when it is solid when it is felled the sun never 
opens it out. In fact, Mr. Breckenridge, a man of very great experience in timber, 
says that no timber stands the sun better. 
