Burke's Pass, in the Fairlie riding of Mackenzie county, is on the way from Fairlie to Mount Cook, and is the last township on the route. It is picturesquely situated amongst mountain ranges, and stands at an elevation of 1780 feet above the level of the sea. From the top of the Pass—2500 feet above sea level—a grand view of the celebrated Mackenzie country is obtained, with the enclosing mountains on all sides. A few miles farther, at a higher elevation, Lake Tekapo bursts into sight in all the beauty of its broad waters. Burke's Pass township has a public school, a church, a blacksmith's shop, a store, a bi-weekly mail service by coach, and a telegraph station. It is fifty-two miles from Timaru, and thirteen from Fairlie, and is well planted with trees, amongst which nestle cosy cottages. The population numbers about 100.

Burke's Pass Public School is built of wood and iron, on concrete foundations. There are two convenient class rooms, with accommodation for seventy children. Thirty-seven names are on the roll, and the average attendance is thirty-four. The school dates from 1879, and is situated on a section of five acres of land. There is a fine plantation, which covers two acres.

Mr. Frederick James Hayman, in charge of Burke's Pass School, was born in Somerset, England, in 1860. He arrived in New Zealand with his parents in the ship “Blue Jacket,” when he was about four years old, and was educated in Canterbury. In 1900 he was appointed to his present school. Mr. Hayman was married, in 1882, to a daughter of Mr. A. Bunting, of Sefton, and has four sons and two daughters.

Burke's Pass Hotel (Donald McMillan, proprietor), Burke's Pass. This hotel was established in 1866, and is situated twelve miles from Fairlie, the present terminus of the railway. The main route to the Mackenzie Country and Mount Cook is through Burke's Pass, and during the tourist season the mail coach with passengers, passes the hotel four times a week. The hotel contains twenty well furnished rooms, and there are chairs for forty persons in the well ventilated page 961 and comfortable dining-room. Mr. McMillan has had considerable experience in hotelkeeping, and began at Tekapo, where he had amongst his patrons Lord and Lady Onslow and party, Bishop Julius, Mrs Julius and party. At his present hotel at Burke's Pass he has enlarged pictures of Lord and Lady Onslow, who personally sent their portraits to Mr McMillan in commemoration of their visit to his house.

Mr. Donald McMillan, the Proprietor, was born at Stornoway, in the Island of Lewis, in 1844, and in his early years he followed a seafaring life. He came to New Zealand in 1865 in the ship “Helenslea,” and followed pastoral pursuits. In 1867 he revisited Scotland and returned to the colony in 1869, when he again followed a pastoral life, chiefly in the Mackenzie Country. He took a second trip Home in 1881, and came back to the colony during the following year. Mr. McMillan was married, in 1875, to Miss McDowell, and they have five daughters and two sons. The eldest son, while still quite a boy, distinguished himself as a bagpipe player, and gained first prize in good company at Timaru.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. D. McMillan.