GERMAN AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

Mr Gustav Von Der Heyde, formerly mem ber of the well-known Auckland firm of Henderson and Macfarlane, and reprcsciv tative of Waitemate in Parliament, is about to take up his residence in Sydney ascolonia manager and general agent in Australasia oj the German Australian Steam Shipping Company of Hamburg. This company has been formed, with a capital of £400,000 for the purpose of building a fleet of steamers to run between Hamburg and the several ports of Australasia. It has most of the leading men on the directory, and the shares were largely and eagerly taken by the industrial classes in tho greaf manufacturing centres of Germany. The company have seven steamers now being built, four on the Clyde and three; in Germany. They are each of 3GOO tons burthen, built of steel, will have a high rate of speed, and will be fitted up with all modern improvements. The first steamer, the Elbcrfeldt, leaves Hamburg on the Bth May for Sydney via Antwerp, Adelaide, and Melbourne. The other stcnniers will leave at intervals of twenty-eight days. The company is not formed to compete with existing lines of steamers, but to supply the demand for tonnage to Australia arising from the great development, of the German trade with the colonies. It is not at first intended that the steamers shall proceed beyond Sydney, but indue time the service will be extended to Queensland and New Zealand ports. Mr Von Der Heyde is at present touring New Zealand to obtain information with this object.