Christchurch.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 13, 24 June 1893, Page 12

Christchurch.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Another act of the Worthington drama has been played. On the 13th inst. a “ Star ” reporter waited on Mrs Worthington, and gained from that lady further particulars of Mr Worthington’s past career. During the interview, seven letters were produced by Mrs Worthington, and these tend to show the character of the man in a particularly unpleasing light. It seems that the Worthingtons left New York for London in 1889. They remained there, however, for only a short time, and on November 27 sailed for Melbourne, but during the voyage (luckily for Christchurch !) they decided to come to New Zealand, and ultimately arrived here on January 16th, 1890. Mr Worthington is a man of action, so on March 4 he gave his first lecture in the Oddfellows’ Hall. had a following around him, and this following grew and grew, till it came to call itself by the pretentious name “ Students of Truth.” Throughout the confession Mrs Worthington, or rather Sister Magdala, as she now prefers to call herself, manifests a charming inconsistency in her attitude towards hlr Worthington. She is not backward in denouncing him, and pretty severely too, with regard to his action in expelling her from the “ Temple.” She says that “ though he preaches the very word of God, and almost like an angel, he is at present enacting the part of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Then, in almost the same breath she says, “If Mr Worthingon be an affietion, let him remain amongst us who love (?) him and would serve him with our all; then, when his illness is past, we will rejoice together. His illness is likely t» be a protracted one, I fancy, and our rejoicing at his recovery will have to be indefinitely postponed. Meanwhile the persecuted man persists in his noble work ; his Bible Talk still appears in Saturday’s Press, and, most important of all, the “ Students ” still contribute loyally to the collections. I mourn for the gullibility of the Christchurch people—or rather for a portion of them. The second round for the competition for the senior football championship began under very favourable circumstances on Saturday last. Although the Sydenham played a fine game against Merivale, they were no match for their clever opponents, who won by eighteen points to nothing. Christchurch club scored its first win this season by defeating Canterbury College by nine points to two. The Kaiapoi team unexpectedly beat Linwood by nine points to four. Both teams indulged in a lot of passing, and the game was well contested. Balch for Kaiapoi was noticable for his fine all-round play. On Monday last the Hon. W. P. Reeves addressed his constituents in the Tuam Street Hall. The hall was filled and many ladies were present in the gallery. Mr Reeves was well received, and at the close of his address, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Reeves and the Government was passed. Another misfortune has befallen Christchurch. A German band is in our midst! From the Truda Brothers to a German band is a downward step. The Italian music is preferable to the Teutonic. If this band has not already visited Invercargill, when it does .—beware, especially of the gentleman who wraps himself in the folds of a huge brass instrument and emits very guttural music.