Regarding Bill Chapman's search for blotting paper -- A quick
Google search pointed to these suppliers in the Australia, NZ
and UK:

  http://www.dalton.com.au/our-range_detail.aspx?view=23 
  http://www.spicerspaper.co.nz/index.asp?menuid=120.010.010&art_id=1632 
  http://www.officepad.co.uk/categories/paper-blotting-paper.shtml 

I expect there will be local paper suppliers who would still
manufacture blotting paper.  I use it in my workplace for simple
chromatography to separate the different colours in inks and dyes.
It appears the cosmetic industry also use thin sheets for soaking
up oil from the skin.

Robert Weismantel