Story: Sewage, water and waste

Guttersnipes and muck

Guttersnipes and muck

A cartoon from an 1866 issue of Otago Punch shows piles of rotting animal and vegetable matter heaped up in streets alongside young children. The inspector of nuisances was responsible for seeing that the rubbish was removed. In a time before organised street collection of rubbish, people just dumped waste where they wanted.

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Hocken Library, University of Otago
Reference: S05-138h

Permission of the Hocken Library Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page:

Christine Dann, 'Sewage, water and waste - Māori and colonial settlements', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/24422/guttersnipes-and-muck (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Christine Dann, published 11 Mar 2010