At the beginning of 1892 a branch of the Colonial Secretary’s Office was established under the title of the “Local Government and Health Branch”, and was placed in charge of a chief clerk. All medical, public health and local government matters were relegated to the branch. At this time also a medical adviser to the government was appointed but without official title. On the estimates for the financial year 1892 – 1893, provision was for the first time made for the appointment of a Medical Officer of Health for the Colony (Civil Service List 1910, p 160).