This building at Burkes Pass was constructed in 1876 for a tender price of $2100 for the Mount Cook Road Board. It was taken over by the Mackenzie County Council when it came into being in 1883.

The photograph was taken by C.P. Johnson who was a Government Auditor and was presented to the Mackenzie County Council by his grandson A.G. Johnson, Managing District Valuer, on behalf of Valuation New Zealand, a century later.

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Extract From The “Century of Challenge”

“The new offices were officially opened on Friday, 2 May 1913, by the Hon W H Herries. The minister arrived shortly after noon, accompanied by Messrs J Craigie, F H Smith and W Nosworthy, members of Parliament, and Mr Moore of the Timaru branch of the Reform League. Mr Craigie, representing Mr Buxton, member for the district, who was overseas, introduced the minister to the councillors and public assembled.

Mr Gillingham gave Mr Herries a cordial welcome to Fairlie, supplied some information about the new offices which had cost about £1560, handed Mr Herries a golden key, a gift from the contractors as a memento of the occasion, and requested him to declare the building open for public use. Mr Herries congratulated the architect on the new offices, praising the external appearance as a model for such an office. They were more than credible too, inasmuch as they had been built without the State being asked to contribute to their cost. He then unlocked the door with the golden key, and declared the new chambers open.”

Bruford and Heming Ltd, Silversmiths and Jewellers of London, approached Council and the key was purchased from a descendant of the Herries family by Council on 7 October 1994 for £350.

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• Key

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