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![When Arthur Bently Worthington embarked upon his return voyage to Christchurch from Tasmania in 1897, he must have been aware that his arrival there was unlikely to be accompanied by the same degree of fanfare and enthusiasm that greeted him when he first set foot in the city, in 1890. In December 1895 the ‘tall and handsome’ American with ‘steel-blue greyish and expressive eyes’, whose real name was Oakley Crawford, had suddenly departed Christchurch, having spent the previous five years in residence there building up and ministering to his flock of acolytes, the ‘Students of Truth’, converts to his new religion. In reality, the charming Worthington was a notorious confidence trickster, having previously travelled the length and breadth of the United States bigamously marrying and swiftly defrauding the many wealthy women who crossed his path – abandoning them, and any children that he may have fathered along the way. His liaison with Mary Plunkett, the ‘wife’ who accompanied him to New Zealand in 1890, was the first to diverge from this pattern. Worthington met Mary, the editor of a Christian Science journal and wife of a notable businessman, in New York in 1889, whilst posing as a faith-healer for the sect, and quickly won her over. It wasn’t long before the two, accompanied by her two children, fled America, as Mary’s former husband had begun to unravel Worthington’s shameful and shocking past. In Mary, Worthington had found a woman whose charisma and beauty perfectly complemented his own, and hoards of Christchurch residents soon fell prey to their peculiar brand of proselytisation. Many in Christchurch willingly parted with their cash, and in some cases even mortgaged their homes, to further the religion, and to furnish the couple’s lifestyle. This extended even to the erection of a magnificent columned edifice, the Temple of Truth, in Latimer Square in 1892 (and the lavish private residence attached to it for the couple), within which Worthington preached his self-styled revivalist ‘rational form of Christianity’ to large congregations several times a week, and his insights into reincarnation and sexology for a smaller, more select audience. It was the latter that provoked an outcry – the Methodists first, and then the other denominations expressed their moral outrage at Worthington’s doctrine of free love, and as details of his sordid past started to emerge, and whispers grew about the sexual ‘goings on’ within the group, things began to heat up for him. Creditors were soon seeking financial reparation in the courts from Worthington for bad loans, a schism occurred within the group which culminated in Mary leaving Worthington (historian Geoffrey Rice in Christchurch Crimes and Scandals 1876-99 speculates that this was likely on account of Worthington’s sexual promiscuity - he quickly moved on and ‘wed’ a young parishioner, however), and New Zealand authorities moved to have him extradited by the United States. No wonder then that he fled for Australia at the close of 1895. What is more surprising is his decision to return in 1897 – presumably to have ‘another crack’ at the citizenry of Christchurch via a series of lectures at the Oddfellows’ Hall in September. During his third lecture, on 26 September, an angry crowd thought to number 6000 amassed in the street outside the building; the police found themselves unable to placate the mob and felt that they needed to read the Riot Act – doing so for the first time in Christchurch’s history. In 1899, Worthington finally made a permanent departure from New Zealand – though the events in Christchurch didn’t deter him from continuing his life of crime, and he died in prison in New York in 1917. Entries in the Police Communications Book, such as those pictured, record the frantic attempts of the police to prepare for and contain the anger on the streets of Christchurch. Archives New Zealand’s Christchurch Regional Office holds a wealth of historical material relating to the Canterbury and Westland areas, and this book can be viewed in person in our Christchurch Reading Room. Archives New Zealand/Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Christchurch Regional Office [Archives Reference: CH439/26].](/assets/images/2026-08-02T14-38-51-238Z-sri-lanka-deploys-troops-to-contain-riot-at-overcrowded-mahara-prison-wikimedia-1280.webp)
An inmate was killed and six others wounded as inmates destroyed multiple facilities inside Mahara Prison near Colombo.
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Three wildfires near Spokane have prompted Level 3 evacuation orders, urging residents to leave immediately.
NPR News | Aug 2, 2026, 1:52 PM
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The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry caught fire while sailing from Surabaya to Makassar, prompting ongoing search and rescue efforts.
Al Jazeera | Aug 2, 2026, 1:52 PM
world
Following the largest mass migration in Ceuta’s history, 22 EU member states urge stronger external border controls amid ongoing migrant returns to Morocco.
Al Jazeera | Aug 2, 2026, 1:19 PM
world
A small tourist plane crashed shortly after take-off in Peru, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board, including eleven foreign tourists and two crew members.
France 24 English | Aug 2, 2026, 1:08 PM
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Vietnamese police arrested 65 individuals, including four Singaporeans, for allegedly operating a network injecting narcotic-laced e-liquid into e-cigarette pods and distributing them.
CNA Latest News | Aug 2, 2026, 1:07 PM
world
Following an unprecedented influx of up to 60,000 migrants from Morocco, the Spanish exclave of Ceuta is returning to normal, though the community continues to face humanitarian and social challenges.
France 24 English | Aug 2, 2026, 1:06 PM
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Andrew Truelove was remanded to Rikers Island following an incident at NBC's Rockefeller Center studios where he allegedly hurled a racial slur at co-host Craig Melvin.
Fox News Latest | Aug 2, 2026, 11:39 AM
us
The United States has recorded its highest measles case count in 30 years, with Delaware responding to its first case in over a decade by accelerating MMR vaccinations.
Guardian US | Aug 2, 2026, 11:38 AM
world
An official report attributes the deadly blast to corrosion and multiple safety failings, leading to arrests and disciplinary actions.
South China Morning Post World | Aug 2, 2026, 11:25 AM
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Twin Falls police confirm suspect acted alone in attack that injured seven others; In-N-Out president expresses heartbreak over loss of employee and customers.
Guardian US | Aug 2, 2026, 11:03 AM
world
The death highlights growing concerns over heat-related illnesses amid high temperatures following the magnitude-7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.
CNA Latest News | Aug 2, 2026, 9:24 AM
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Following France’s largest wildfire in over 70 years, most of the 224,000 evacuees have been permitted to return home, though a new flare-up in the Var department prompted fresh evacuations.
France 24 English | Aug 2, 2026, 9:23 AM
world
Emergency services are searching for a 59-year-old man who went missing during the swimming segment of the 2026 Summer Triathlon Challenge amid severe weather warnings.
South China Morning Post World | Aug 2, 2026, 7:36 AM
world
After battling a large blaze, French firefighters have successfully contained the fire, allowing almost 200,000 evacuees to return to their homes amid an ongoing wildfire season in Europe.
Deutsche Welle | Aug 2, 2026, 7:35 AM
world
Heavy rainfall and swollen rivers continue to affect large parts of China, with emergency flood responses activated and death tolls increasing in the northwest.
South China Morning Post World | Aug 2, 2026, 7:35 AM
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The court barred the use of a woman's hospital body camera confession and related footage in her murder trial, citing doctor-patient confidentiality.
Fox News Latest | Aug 2, 2026, 7:03 AM
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A gunman opened fire at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The suspected shooter was found dead near the scene.
NPR News | Aug 2, 2026, 6:42 AM
world
Finance Chief Paul Chan pledges to promote global yuan use following debut of offshore Chinese government bond futures.
South China Morning Post World | Aug 2, 2026, 6:42 AM
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A homemade explosive device detonated at an Italian restaurant in Moscow's Kudrinskaya Square, killing three and injuring 21, according to Russian officials.
France 24 English | Aug 2, 2026, 6:42 AM
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Virunga National Park implements health checkpoints and surveillance to contain the Ebola outbreak and safeguard endangered mountain gorillas amid rising cases in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Al Jazeera | Aug 2, 2026, 4:33 AM
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The family of a 16-year-old girl who died months after police detention alleges her arrest was unlawful and her treatment in custody led to her death, sparking renewed calls to reform Japan's justice system.
ABC Australia News | Aug 2, 2026, 2:36 AM
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A 56-year-old man was taken into custody after investigations linked him to the use of a catapult to shoot marbles at birds, resulting in damage to a residential window in Woodlands.
CNA Latest News | Aug 2, 2026, 1:45 AM
world
June and July in Western Australia saw significant events including the first H5 bird flu case, local World Cup celebrations, and a notable court ruling.
ABC Australia News | Aug 2, 2026, 1:40 AM