One hundred years ago this week the Sydney correspondent of Melbourne's Punch reported that "All through the garbage [disposal] discussion in Sydney the whole case of the City Council has rested on the supposed fact that a 3-knot current swept down the coast of NSW about five miles out from the shore."

"It was presumed that refuse deposited into this current was carried away from the shores of Australia, and finally piled up somewhere on the icy barrier of the Antarctic. This presumption flew right into the face of the known fact that the dumped garbage was periodically swept up on the surf beaches along the coast. Some bright intellect, however, actually thought of enquiring into the current question. The result of the investigation has shown that the wonderful 3-knot current, of which so much has been heard, actually sets on to the coast of NSW. This means that all the garbage deposited out at sea is certain, unless some misfortune overtakes it, to find itself back on shore within a reasonable time.

"The Lord Mayor has made a temporary arrangement for six months by which