Cuttings from the Argus newspaper, Melbourne, mentioning Leonard Langdale Wrathall

[prepared by Tim Charlton, Consultant Geologist]

- OIL FROM TIMOR. SAMPLE FOR MINES DEPARTMENT. The secretaries of the Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd.
(Messrs. Flack and Flack) report that one drum, containing 42 gallons of crude oil, being portion of the 20 tons recently
brought from the company's concessions in Timor, has been submitted to the Mines department for complete analysis.
The seal of the Portuguese customs office was certified to and broken by Mr. F. G. Collins, of the Portuguese consulate
of Mebourne, and the sample was officially handed over to Messrs. Stanley Hunter and J. C. Watson, of the Mines department.
The directors report having received advice from Dr. A. Wade, consulting technologist to the company, that Mr. L. L.
Wrathall, who had been appointed geologist to the company, left London for Melbourne on October 12 (Argus, Melbourne,
30/10/1925).

- Abridged Prospectus of the Timor Petroleum Company Limited
(Incorporated Under the Companies Act 1915 of the State of Victoria )
NOMINAL CAPITAL: £200,000 in 200,000 shares of £1 each, of which 100,000 are offered for subscription, payable 5/ per
share on application, 5/ per share on allotment, 5/ within three months, and 5/ within six months from date of
allotment, with the right to pay in full at any time. 60,000 are to be issued as fully paid up in part payment for the
acquisition of the oil properties as hereinafter mentioned. 40,000 are to be held in reserve. [Total] 200,000.
Timor Oil Limited has an option to purchase at par over a certain period a number of shares equal to 20% of the
subscribed capital. No vendors' shares will be transferred until the Company's contributing shares shall have reached a
value of £2 per share on the Stock Exchange, and for 30 days thereafter.

DIRECTORS

ARTHUR JOHN STAUGHTON, Terang Victoria Grazier

HAROLD CAMPBELL MACFIE, 14 Martin Place Sydney, New South Wales, Company Director

ROBERT WALKER, 127 Riverdale Road ,Hawthorn, Investor

RICHARD BLACKWOOD OFFICER, Carcoar, New South Wales, Grazier

FREDERICK NOMENS, 64 Kooyong Koot Road, Glenferrie, Company Director.

PHILIP JAMES SNAPE, Armidale New bouth Wales, Stock and Station Agent

BANKERS

THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, Melbourne

SOLICITORS

BLACK and RIGGALL, 120 William Street Melbourne.

CONSULTING PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGIST:

ARTHUR WADE, Esq. DSc., A.R.C.Sc., M.I.M.M., M.I.P.T., F.G.S.

AUDITORS:

YOUNG and OUTHWAITE, Stock Exchange Building, Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

BROKERS:

W. FORSTER WOODS, 416 Collins Street, Melbourne.

GEO. W. SHIELS, 325 Collins Street, Melbourne.

SECRETARIES AND REGISTERED OFFICE:

FLACK and FLACK, 128 William Street, Melbourne.

Brokerage at the Rate of 6d Per Share Will be Allotted the Members of Recognised Stock Exchanges of Australia on all
Applications for Shares Lodged Through Them and Allotted Applications will be Made to the Stock Exchanges in the Various
States to Have the Shares of the Company Listed.

PITH OF THE TIMOR -PETROLEUM PROSPECTUS

PORTUGUESE TIMOR is Australia's nearest island neighbour, in the famous East Indian oilfield, lying about 340 miles N.W.
of Darwin.
OIL RIGHTS IN PERPETUITY are owned by the company over seven concessions, aggregating at present 4465 acres.
THE CONCESSIONS have been inspected and reported on by Dr. Arthur Wade, of London, the eminent British petroleum
technologist, recently under special engagement to the Commonwealth Government.

DR. WADE IS OF OPINION (report dated October 4, 1924) that: "The properties show promise of developing into successful
and payable oilfields."

IN SUPPORT OF THIS CONCLUSION Dr. Wade states that:-"Evidences of the presence of oil are to be found on all the properties."
And in respect to the Mete Hou concession, Dr. Wade confirms that:-"Every hole put down in this coastal strip has yielded oil almost
from the first breaking of the surface cover, and a considerable quantity seems to be present."

PROSPECTING OPERATIONS during July last at Mete Hou confirmed to the fullest degree Dr. Wade's prediction of the existence
 of a saturated oil-bed, and, without exception, revealed copious oil in the 25 shallow shafts sunk.

A BULK SAMPLE OF 20 TONS of this oil, under the seal and guarantee of the Portuguese Government, arrived in Australia on
October 25 last.

IT IS ON DAILY DISPLAY in three huge open tanks at the Colonial Mutual (late Equitable) Building, corner Collins and
Elizabeth streets, Melbourne.

THE INTENTION OF THE COMPANY is to immediately commence drilling on Mete Hou concession, concerning which Dr. Wade
says:-"I think there is a good probability of commercial supplies. It is certainly worth going on with as vigorously as possible."

ONLY 1000 FEET OF DRILLING is set by Dr. Wade as the limit for commercial production at Mete Hou.

ON THE SIX OTHER CONCESSIONS Dr. Wade stresses the great importance of the presence of petroleum gas in the strata,
stating that "these may be of more importance than a seepage of oil," and that "the gas is strong enough to hold the oil
in the beds under pressure."

A DETAILED GEOLOGICAL SURVEY of these very promising six other areas will be made immediately, with the object of
selecting boring sites.

ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE the Company will have the benefit of the most skilled assistance procurable. Dr. Wade is engaging
his staff personally in London. The field personnel will arrive in Timor direct from long and experienced connection
with the great oil regions in the Old and New World.

BORING OPERATIONS at Mete Hou, where an abundant heavy oil is already available near the surface in a definite
formation, will begin early in the new year; on the six other properties, as soon as the structures have been surveyed.
Drilling and geological operations will be conducted simultaneously. Captain Wrathall, the company's geologist, left London on
November 12 for Melbourne.

DEPARTMENT OF MINES LABORATORY Melbourne, endorses Dr. Wade's plans to obtain at depth a lighter oil than
that baled by natives in primitive fashion from open shallow pits, which are apt to allow the lighter fractions to evaporate.
Though oil from depth is, of course, so far not available from Timor, authenticated (Redwood) analysis of a sample from only
30ft. yielding 67.5 per cent, light fractions and 30.7 per cent, heavier fractions is very encouraging, and indicative
of exceedingly high grade at depth. Redwood attests the "marked similarity in a geological sense between Timor and Sumatra,"
which produces a high quality "crude." In view of the known oil-bearing nature of their properties in Timor, the location of the
island itself inone of the world's greatest oil-producing regions, enabling for the first time direct Australian participation in the
petroleum riches of the East Indies on a bedrock producing basis,nand the proximity of this Australian owned oilfield to the nation's
vulnerable back door at Darwin and to the Singapore Naval Base, the directors of Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd. consider the speculative
element common to most prospecting enterprises to be of the minimum degree in respect to Timor Oil.
(This is not a Prospectus, and does not comply with the provisions of the Companies Act of 1915 relating to a Prospectus)
(Argus, Melbourne, 21/11/1925).

- Mr. L.L. Wrathall, field superintendent for Timor Petroleum, Co. Ltd., who was appointed by Dr. Arthur Wade in London,
arrived in Melbourne yesterday by the Great Western express. He will take charge of the company's activities in Timor
(Argus, Melbourne, 24/12/1925).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM COMPANY. ARRANGEMENTS FOR DRILLING. The secrectaries of the Timor Petroleum Co.
 Ltd. report that Captain L. L. Wrathall and a drilling staff leave for Timor by the s.s. Malabar on February 23, and are taking with
them drilling equipment, casing &c. to supplement the standard rig already on the field, and a complete second plant. The
representative in Timor reports that everything is ready to commence work when the equipment reaches the field. Latest
official advices from the island state that the Portuguese Government is pursuing an active policy of road construction
on and in the vicinity of the companyÕs properties, without cost to the company. It is the intention to commence
operations on the Meta Hou concessions where evidence of oil has been disclosed at comparatively shallow depths. With a
view to selecting a site for the second hole, Captain Wrathall, who has been appointed field superintendent and general
manager for the company in Timor, on a recommendation of Dr. A. Wade (consulting technologist to the company), will make
a general survey of the other six concessions along the lines recommended by Dr. Wade. The party is expected to arrive
in Timor on March 16 (Argus, Melbourne, 8/2/1926).

- NEW PETROLEUM VENTURE. Captain L. L. Wrathall, chief geologist and field superintendent of the Timor Petroleum
Company Limited, sailed from Sydney with a staff of drillers on March 3, by the Malabar, direct for Dilly, Timor, where they
 are expected to arrive on March 16. Fifty tons of plant is also on board. It is the company's intention to put a first bore
down on its Mete Hou concession, and if possible to carry on the 570 feet bore where oil and gas are escaping from
between the 8 and 10 inch casing. The Boola Boola Company's plant has been obtained at an advantageous price, and is now
being dismantled and packed for shipment to Timor. This plant will be used as a second drilling plant on a site to be selected by
Captain Wrathall. Living quarters for the staff have been erected at Mete Hou and Irabin concessions. Native labour is plentiful,
efficient, and cheap, and water and fuel timbers are abundant (Argus, Melbourne, 13/3/1926).

- Drilling for Oil. A second drilling plant and staff are being despatched to Timor by the Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd. by
the Marella, leaving Sydney on April 3. By special arrangement with Burns, Philp Co. the Marella will call direct at
Dilly, the capital of the Portuguese colony, situated 350 miles from Darwin. Mr. L. L. Wrathall, the company's chief
geologist and field superintendent, arrived at Timor on March 17vwith the No. 1 plant, which, he cables, has been
transhipped for the concessions, onthe south coast of the island. It is expected that Mr. Wrathall will decide to resume
 drilling at Meta Hou immediately the new steel derrick is assembled. It is intended to erect No. 2 plant on the Irabin Builo
concession as soon as Mr. Wrathall has completed his detailed survey of these areas and chosen a second drilling site
(Argus, Melbourne, 3/4/1926).

- Timor Petroleum. Cabled advice has been received by the Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd. from Mr. L. L. Wrathall, its field
superintendent in Timor, that the No. 2 drilling plant had arrived at Dilly, and was being transhipped to the company's
concessions on the south coast of the island on May 1. It is stated that it is intended to use this plant in testing the
Irabin and Builo areas. These are the sites which Dr. A. Wade, petroleum geologist, reported carried surface evidences
of petroleum gas. The geological survey of these areas as recommended by him is in progress. The steel derrick for the
No. 1 plant is being erected in the main camp at the Mete Hou concession. The bulk sample of crude oil obtained by the
company's prospectors from shallow shafts last year came from the block to be tested by No. 1 plant (Argus, Melbourne,
8/5/1926).

- Timor Petroleum. Letter from chief geologist and field superintendent (Captain L. L. Wrathall), dated April 28. states both
 plants, arrived. and no difficulty. Motor-truck purchased for transport. Captain Wrathall remarks, "I am cheery about the oil.
There is oil in every hole put down, and surface shows are gratifying. Staff engaged assembling plant. When one plant in
working order shall be able to locate a well site on one of the other coastal concessions and get second plant transported there."
With reference applications for conversion of company's four prospecting blocks into definite leases, these have been conceded
by Portuguese Government, signed by Governor and deposited at bank in Dilly (Argus, Melbourne, 15/6/1926).

- Timor Petroleum Co. Referring to particulars given on Wednesday regarding the procedure necessary for the securing of
oil concessions in the Dutch East Indies, the secretaries of the Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd., operating in Portuguese
territory, point out that the Dutch oil regulations in no way apply to their company. The Portuguese Government has
already granted full title to the company's seven holdings, and Captain Wrathall cabled that the documents have been
lodged in the bank in Dilly (Argus, Melbourne, 24/6/1926).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM. The secretaries of the Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd. report having received a cable message from the
 field superintendent (Mr L. L. Wrathall) stating that the signs of oil and gas escaping on the Meta Hou concession are encouraging.
The original 570ft. bore is said to be discharging intermittently warm salt water with signs of oil and gas. Instead of deepening the
old bore, however, Mr. Wrathall states he prefers to put down a new bore, and has been preparing a site and erecting plant.
Drilling will commence within two months (Argus, Melbourne, 13/7/1926).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM. The Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd. has received a report dated July 8 from Captain Wrathall, the company's
 chief geologist and field superintendent, Timor, with reference to the Meta Hou concession No. 1. The report in full is being sent to
shareholders. Captain Wrathall's conclusions are that seepages as surface indications leave little to be desired; that although the
structure is not perfect, there is hope that oil reservoirs lie beneath the company's property at a depth within the capacity of the
drilling-plant, and that drilling difficulties are likely to be encountered, but should not be sufficient to endanger success greatly.
Water for drilling is scarce, but that condition, Captain Wrathall says, is only temporary. Labour, although unskilled and undisciplined
in work, is plentiful. He adds that general conditions are good, and that although sickness of the white staff is likely, no very serious
delays on that score can be anticipated. Captain Wrathall's conclusion is that the concession is worth serious attention, and may prove
to be of considerable value (Argus, Melbourne, 18/8/1926).

- Timor Petroleum Co.
When moving the adoption of the balance sheet and first report of the directors of the Timor Petroleum Co ltd at the
recent annual meeting of the company, held at Menzies' Hotel the chairman, Mr. H. Macfie said that cable advice from
the field superintendent (Mr. Wrathall) stated that drilling was about to be commenced on the Meta Hou area and that the survey
was in progress on the Irabin and other concessions which Dr. Wade had reported favourably upon. The titles to the company's
property were completed and in this and other respects the company had received every assistance from the Portuguese authorities.
The cash position of the company was satisfactory, the total funds being approximately £25,000. With the object of eliminating all
risks with the old bore the field superintendent had decided to drill a new hole a short distance away from the original at Meta Hou.
The plant at Meta Hou was capable of drilling to a depth of 3,000ft. Both Dr. Wade and Mr. Wrathall were of the opinion that
the oil possibilities in the Meta Hou region would be proved at a depth of about 1,000ft., which was well within the
capacity of the drilling plant. It was not anticipated that any serious obstacles would be encountered at Meta Hou, and
that good progress would be made when drilling was commenced. The staff consisted of two experienced drillers and two
assistants. The question of listing the company at Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide had been taken up with the committee
of the Melbourne Stock Exchange. The retiring directors were re-elected, their remuneration being fixed for past
services at £200 each and £250 for the chairman. Messrs. Young and Outhwaite were re-elected as auditors (The Argus,
Melbourne, 9/9/1926).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM COMPANY. In a report dated March 11, Mr. L. L. Wrathall, field superintendent of the Timor Petroleum
Company Ltd.. states that from January 21 to February 12 the average production of oil from the company's bore, allowing
for oil used in drilling, was five barrels a day. When the shales began to cave in the casing had to be let down, and
this action shut off the oil. At 295ft. oil rose 210ft. in the bore and gas became active. The oil, states Mr. Wrathall,
appeared to be lighter in quality. It was dark green and "very fluid." Five hundred gallons were being placed in the
storage tank daily. On May 11 the depth of the bore was 535ft (Argus, Melbourne, 20/5/1927).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM COMPANY. The managing director of Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd. (Mr. F. Nomens) advises that no monopoly
concessions for prospecting for oil have been granted by the Portuguese Government at Timor and that Mr, P. J. Snape, a
director, will leave for Timor on July 21 to complete the monopoly negotiations. Mr. Wrathall, field superintendent,
reported on May 13 that the second storage oil tank, with a capacity of about 55,000 gallons, was nearing completion
(Argus, Melbourne, 22/6/1927).

- Timor Petroleum. - Report from Mr Snape, a director, visiting Timor:- "Wrathall confident, depth of well 750ft.,
encouraging signs of oil and gas during my visit" (Argus, Melbourne, 31/8/1927).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM COMPANY. Mr. P. J. Snape, a director of the Timor Petroleum Co. Ltd., has returned from an inspection
of the company's property in Portuguese Timor. Mr. Snape reports that during the whole of his visit indications of gas
and oil were abundant. Water supply was ample and sufficient native labour was available. On the company's concession at
Irabin and Bualio shallow bores had been sunk to obtain geological information, and, although no oil seepages were
found, gas was plentiful. The Government had granted exemptions from working the areas at Atalele and Ira-Muni. Mr.
Snape expresses the opinion that prospects at Meta Hou are encouraging, and that additional wells could he sunk to prove
whether the shallow oil could be obtained in commercial quantities. The contract of the company's superintendent (Mr. L.
L. Wrathall) has been extended for two years at his request (Argus, Melbourne, 13/10/1927).

- TIMOR PETROLEUM COMPANY. Following the death of Mr. L. L. Wrathall, field superintendent of the Timor Petroleum Co.
Ltd., Messrs. A. J. Staughton and F. Nomens, directors of the company, have decided to visit Timor to investigate
conditions there and arrange for the appointment of a new manager. The directors will leave on April 24, and will be
absent for three months (Argus, Melbourne, 20/4/1928).