Damn we could have damn well been millionaires!!!!!!!!!!
Here is an updated article:
This piece they are talking about is in a different location but looks similar.
Wellington City Council staff were not required to remove a large,
unidentified lump of greasy substance from a south coast beach today - locals
did it for them.
The lump apparently washed up at Breaker Bay during the weekend and once word
got out that it could be valuable ambergris - an excretion from whales that is
used to make perfume - locals started pillaging it.
Ambergris can sell for thousands of dollars per kilogram and Wellington City
Council spokesman Richard MacLean said it was like "some sort of bizarre gold
rush" on the beach today.
"We went out there this morning and there were people sort of lunging at it
with spades and sharp implements trying to chop pieces off so they could make
off with it and make their fortunes," he said.
"Whether people are now going to try and pass it off on TradeMe as highly
valuable ambergris remains to be seen."
However, the lump was cylinder shaped as if it had been manufactured and the
general consensus was that it was in fact lard or cooking fat.
Initial suggestions were that it might be a huge lump of cheese which had
fallen off a boat, but either way, Mr MacLean said it was foul.
"It's disgusting. I've got a piece of it beside my desk and everyone in the
office is pretty much grossed out by it."
He said there was probably no need to get it tested unless issues arose
around people attempting to sell it.
The lump was originally about the size of a 44-gallon drum and estimated to
weigh hundreds of kilograms.
- NZPA
Adam Williams
Ex-President
021 239 9543