1947 FOREST PRODUCTS RESEARCH WORK CSIR AUST/ PNG

1947 Research Work CSIR in Forestry & Forest Products Australia/ PNG 62

New Guinea Timbers. - Acting in close co-operation with the New Guinea Forests Department, the Division proposes to continue and extend the work on the examination of physical and mechanical properties of New Guinea timbers. Wood Structure Section. - This Section has made a comprehensive study of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of Australian timbers and has applied the results of its work to identification keys on the one hand and to certain features of investigation of other sections on the other. During World War II, card-sorting keys developed for the timbers of the Pacific Islands were of considerable aid to the Allied forces fighting in that zone. Wood Chemistry Section. –continues the work of the pulp and paper investigations initiated by the old Forest Products Laboratory. Timber Physics Section. - fundamental research into the physical properties of timber. Timber Mechanics Section. - mechanical properties of various Australian timbers, bending properties of Australian timbers, projects designed to meet the need of materials for housing. Seasoning Section. – Major activity developing a high standard of kiln drying in Australia. Preservation Section. - field tests of poles, sleepers, and fence posts treated with various preservatives; responsible for the boric acid treatment of lyctus-susceptible timbers. Veneer and Gluing Section. - Assistance in the peeling, drying, and gluing of Australian timbers. Work on adhesives Utilization Section.

Update 2018 re CSIRO/PNG Wood Research by the late Peter Eddowes63

Peter Eddowes in 1965 spent a period three months, at CSIRO, to study the wood anatomy of timbers, under the tutelage of Bob Ingle (Wood Anatomist). Peter had been working in close association with Bob since the collection of materials started for testing by CSIRO. During this period, Bob would receive, from Eddowes, small wood blocks of duplicate wood material from the (authentic) ‘NGF’ series, of wood collections. From these wood samples, Bob then prepared a full collection of microscopic slides which were invaluable in the support identification and authenticity, of the wood material as collected for testing by CSIRO. Peter Eddowes advised that PNG relied heavily upon local sawmills to mill the wood samples, as collected in their area, for ongoing research purposes, and in the cutting of the flitches of the collected (authentic) materials for consignment to the CSIRO in Melbourne. Sawmillers included Jack Lindquist (Amplex / New Britain, Golden Pines / Bulolo, Wau sawmills), Vince Sanders (Brown River), Bill McLellan (Lae), Jack Eustice (Oriomo), Ed Fitzgerald (Madang), Bert Counsel (Ihu / Gulf), Bill Bailey (Open Bay / New Britain), Simon Hirata (Stettin Bay / New Britain), Jack Thick (Lufa / Goroka), Don Neate (Woodlark Island), Ron Neville (Mendi), and the Stewardson brothers (Normanby Island/ Milne Bay). Peter Eddowes advised that in the period (1961-1975) they achieved their goals in the collection of materials, to determine both the physical and mechanical properties of the major timber species. The team of John Colwell, Greg McDonald, Barry Hartwell, Maru Kumul and Peter Eddowes, together with the members of the Division of Building Research CSIRO, including Nora Bolza, Bob Ingle, Bill Keating et al, was responsible for establishing a true record for the properties and potential uses for the major commercial timber species of Papua New Guinea.

62 Extracts article by G Rodger Unasylva Vol 1 # 3 Nov-Dec 1947 FAO. 63 Forthcoming publication re eminent TPNG Forester/wood technologist late Peter Eddowes Reflections of past times in PNG Forestry submitted 27/6/2018.