JARRAH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5602, 7 February 1879, Page 5

JARRAH.

(From th« Ktlboumi Argus.) Victorian enterprise has converted a volley in the Barline Banges, Western Australia, where solitude hitherto reigned supreme, into a hive of industry, by the establishment of extensive sawmills. It stay probably be nows to many that the Darling Bongo, of mountains is the habitat of the now famous jarrah. There is a tract of country of about 14,000 square miles pretty thickly timbered, chiefly with jarrah, the eucalyptus niarginata, locally known as the Swan Birer mahogany, though its resemblance to true mahogany, Swietenia mahoaoni, either Spanish or Honduras, is but slight. Joirah is eminently adapted for railway

sleepers, since its antiseptic properties enable it to withstand tho various forms of decay popularly known as “dry rot,” “ wot rot,” and another kind of “rot,” which, in hot countne*, 1* usually more destructive than tho other two combined, and which might appropriate!y be termed "animal rot.” In tropical and semi-tropical countries, the wtuto ant, termes, an insignificant little insect, is by virtue of its immense numbers, a, terrible timber pest, sometimes destroying tho entire wood-work of a house in a single season. Jarrah being unsavoury, perhaps poisonous, to the wbito ants, they shun it. Hence tho rapidly increasing demand for this approximately imperishable wood.

In South Australia architects and engineers now generally insist in their specifications on the use of jarrah. It has, however, one serious drawback—it is difficult to season, and when used in an unseasoned state it is very unreliable. When as much care is bestowed on seasoning jarrah as is given to the woods of Central America and of India, then, and not till then, will this wonderful timber be justly appreciated.

The power of mountain jarrah to withstand tho ravages of that destructive sea-worm the teredo navalis* is now placed beyond doebt. Analysis snows that tho mountain jarrah contarns salts of copper, and has thus inherent the very substance with which it has been sought artificially to impregnate, as a preservative, other timbers.

Jarrah and teak are the the only timbers known to withstand the ravages of the Limnoria ierebrant, a minute animal, as destructive in temperate as tho teredo is in warm latitudes.

Jarrah piles, too, withstand the ravages of the wood-boring shrimp chelura terebrans. This crustraceon is almost as destructive as the teredo, though much less in size. It excavates its habitation close to the surface of submerged timbers, so close to the surface that the waves wash away the outer fh»P. and leave the surface of the timber covered wiia ’ minute grooves* The continuous process of burrowing and laying bare rapidly destroys the timber that pleases the palates of these shrimps.' The gribUe limnoria perforata is a mollusc, the shape of a woodlouse, and the_ colour and size of another domestic parasite bearing the same name, minus the first syllable. It works deeper into the timber than the chelura, penetrating as much as two inches, brer 100 of them can work on the square inch. Sometimes the chelura, the limnoria, and the teredo an all busily at work on the same piles, and when this takes place, no structure, however well put together, can be enduring. Jonah has a wonderful immunity from the attacks of each and all of these pests, and as seasoning is unnecessary for timber used in submarine structures, sound, mature, but not aged timber is all that need be insisted on for the construction of jetties, wharves, and the like, which, with good workmanship, would be as nearly indestructible as it is possible for organic matter to be.

Jarrahdale is the euphonious appro* priate name given to one of the principal timber stations in Western Australia, now getting into full working order. It is situated 24 miles, in a direct line, from the seaport of Buckingham, the finest in W.A, Before any timber could be conveyed from the bill, to the beach a railway had to bo constructed through bills and swamps. At first wooden rails were tried; but the weight of the locomotive and even that of the loaded trucks, over six tons each, rendered the coat of maintenance excessive. Steel nils 301 b. to the yard are now being laid, which will reduce the cost of carriage 75 per cent. A substantial jetty is in course of construction, at which vessels of 1,300 tons burden will be able to load at any season, in 27ft. of water. The anchorage could not be better, and ships are sheltered from the roll of the Indian Ocean by the intervention of Garden Island. Eockingham may yet become the chief port, for Fremantle, or rather Gage’s Roads, is much exposed. Vessels rarely come to the jetty, but discharge into cargo boats.

As might naturally be supposed, an extensive saw-mill, situated so far from a large town, requires to be tolerably self-reliant. Consequently, in connection with the mill, are the smiths’ shop with three forges; a shoeing smith finds constant employment, there being at present 70 horses on the station. These horses soon wear their shoes out on the Ironstone ranges. Wheelwrights are. busily engaged fashioning the native timbers, whitegum {eucalyptus verminalis) and Tooart {E. gomphocephala.) There is no timber in Victoria equal to these two for heavy wheels. Adjoining the smiths’ shop is the engineers’ shop, containing machines, driven by steam, for turning, punching, drilling, saw-sharpen-ing, &c. Iron and brass founding are being carried on. A multitubular boiler 16ft long and 7ft in diameter is being made, and is in fact nearly completed. In all nearly 100 men are employed, who, together with their families, make nearly double that number. There being no shop within 36 miles of the statidfi, the catering for this concourse devolves on the manager, whose well-stocked store, with a very varied assortment of commodities, is patronised by the entire community. Out of this store they are fed, furnished, clothed, and physicked. They consume two bullocks a week, and other things in proportion. Until recently the men were subject to scurvy and other ailments, owing to the want of vegetables. Now they have a plentiful supply at a reasonable price. An acre or more of ground was cleared on a hill side. A never-failing spring of water irrigates each bed as required, and with very little labour to the gardener. Now new potatoes and cabbages for dinner, water or rock melons at work, and salads for supper, are the order of the day. In connection with the station is a schoolhouse, attended by about 85 children. Snakes are plentiful; they are frequently seen, but no one on the station has been bitten. It is very hot and dry in the summer, and excessively wet in the winter; still the men enjoy excellent health; a doctor is never seen on the station. There is certainly a pretty brisk demand for patent medicines, such as cblorodyne and painkiller, but they are taken more as a substitute for PJJ. than medicinally.

•Respecting the statement by Ur Woods, Minister of Railways, that he had been told by Mr Darley, the hartnor engineer, Newcastle, that “ he had seen the famous West Australian jarrah perforated just as much by the same insect," it was an assertion of this hind which induced the writer to send this paper on jarrah. A similar statement was made by an engineer in New Zealand, and Mr J. H. Thomas, director of Public Works, Western Australia, was requested to report upon the matter. Be desired the engineer who condemned the jarrah as assailable to the attacks of the .eredo to send round the most riddled samples he could procure. In due time it came, and certainly appeared very bad, but upon sawing it up for examination it was found that the teredo had in no place penetrated beyond the sap-wood (alburnum), which, not being perfect wood, in no way invalidates the statement that mature mountain-grown jarrah is impervious to the attacks of the teredo.

New Steamer. —The Union Steam Ship Company hare received advices by this mar to the effect that very rapid progress has been made with the construction of the line new steamer Botomahana. To give our retd era some idea of her eiee, we may state that she will be of somewhat greater tonnage than the Wakntipu, and in regard to speed she will have boilers of 500-h.p., and it is expected that her engines will drive her 15 knots pfflf hour. Plans of her accommodation and equipments hard been received. They show that the oofnfort and convenience of passengers have been studied in the highest degree. There are a great many two-berth cabins; and the narrow settees generally to be found in vessels are superseded by commodious sofas extending all round the saloon. The seats at the tables consist of pivot chairs similar to those in the Zealandia and Australia, and which are much appreciated by the travelling public. On decs there is to be a large “social hall ” for gentlemen (nonsmokers} and ladies, and which is to be provided with a piano. -In the after part of the ship will be a luxuriously fitted-up smokingroom. On deck there will also be a large cabin denominated the bridal chamber. (This will be for parties on wedding tours and others, who are able and willing to pay the additional rates charged for the use or this cabin, which will be most comfortably and elegantly furnished.— Morning Herald.