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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 19

The case of Surgeon Lea has not dropped yet, says a Home paper, and when Parliament opens more may bo said about the extraordinary proceedings. The court-martial was certainly conducted in a peculiar manner. JJr Lea sidd the captain was insane and was put under arrest for insubordination. He was tried, but the court rig-idly refused to allow him to call a tittle of evidence to prove the truth of his allegation. At the trial it was shewn that Captain Johnson gave an order and reprimanded him for not promptly executing it, whereupon tho doctor placed the captain on the sick list. According to Truth, however, tho doctor placed °the captain on the sick list and then the captain gave an order which was disobeyed. If this be true an entirely new complexion is put upon the affair. Anyhow, the doctor was dismissed the servieo ; his name was struck out of the Navy List ; but ke is granted a pension of 3s 8d a day. It is notorious that the Ringarooma has not been a comfortable ship. Recommissioned in May, j 1894, in the following August she was stranded and nearly lo3t, and then fresh . trouble arose. A few days after the ship j was floated the sad and melancholy death of a young engineer officer took place on board • the navigating officer was dismissed his ship - the surgeon was dismissed the servioe • the third lieutenant was relieved, probably at his own request ; and last, but not least, tne captain of the ship has been " relieved" before his time. For none of this the captaia may have been responsible ; but happily we i SKStoT* Bhips like the 3BH »*s^?