This UML design:
a->b note right : 1. right note over a,b : 2. over note left : 3. left a<-b
produces a diagram where note #1 is missing and #3 is before #2
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This has been somehow fixed in last beta: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13064071/plantuml.jar
Note that you have to change your diagram definition:
a->b note right : 1. right note left : 3. left note over a,b : 2. over a<-b
Is this what you are expecting ?