JARRAH TIMBER.

Evening Star, Issue 4248, 7 October 1876, Page 4

JARRAH TIMBER.

Tho «New Zealand Times' publishes the following communication from the Commissioner of Customs:—"Some few months aiuce it was ascertained that the jarrah piles used in the construction of the Mangere bridge, Onehunga harbor, were being injured by worms, and doubts were entertained as to whether the timber employed was the true jarrah, or whether it was the spurious sort so closely resembling the true as to be frequently very difficult of detection. Numerous worm-eaten specimens were obtained and forwarded to the Govern.ment of Western Australia for examination, "the result of which has been communicated to our Government in the following report: "Fromthe opinion of competent judges who have examined the specimens of timber from the Mangere Bridge, Auckland, I feel that there can be sot the slightest, doubt as to all of them being of the true jarrah wood. The worm, however, in each case has merely penetrated the sap, as it will do here, but they will-go no further unless in squaring the pile the heart of the timber has been exposed. "When round timber of this class can be used for piles it is always as well to do so, especially in positions likely to bo subjected to the attack of the tendo navalis. I do not think there need be any cause to fear for the stability of this bridge from the the effects that the worms may have upon it, as they will not penetrate beyond the sap, as has been abundantly proved by a very long experience of this timber when simi. larly exposed in this colony and other places. —(Signed) Jas. A. Thomas, - Government Engineer. Public Works Department, Perth, W.A., 28th August, 1876. " f