Hillsborough Maria Stone statement 1885 I, Maria Stone, 14 yrs in Sept next am in 6th class, in which I have been since last examination, we have in Geography learnt our Rivers, Mountains, Lakes and Towns of Victoria and New South Wales, but in the 5th learnt the towns of Africa and America under Mr Jamieson. Remember Violet Anderson coming into the school when Mrs Anderson took charge and of her coming in when the servant was doing the work till Xmas, not as often afterwards, nearly every day, did not come in so often before Xmas as she did after.She sat in the gallery or near me or was running about the school. Rosetta Paul used to come sometimes, sat with her sister, or in the gallery but sometimes ran about the school. Have seen Violet misconduct herself near the hat room door and near the gallery in school, but twice in school time just before Xmas. Noticed that Amelia Ralph did the same last week. My sister was for four months with Mrs Anderson as servant and told me that she scrubbed the schoolroom out once in that time - often on Monday for several Mondays running the room had dirt under the seats and gallery that could be swept out, so it had not been scrubbed. Have never seen anyone scrubbing it when I came on Saturdays with the milk to Mrs Anderson. To Mrs Anderson - Have seen you sweeping the school out two or three times every week when I brought the milk. Saw what Violet did as I sat in my seat, two or three times by the hat room door once inside the room, never inside anywhere else. I do not know if Mrs Anderson knew about what happened in the hat room. Maria Stone. This mess remained for two or three days, just outside the door on more than one occasion. Maria Stone