clock runs slow - seconds change every 4-7 seconds

Binary package hint: yelp

Using Feisty c/w latest upgrades running in Virtual Machine Ware on Dell Inspiron 5315 c/w Vista. Clock v.2-18-1 Two problems:
 a) In 'manual' mode time shown on clock lags behind actual time. To correct the clock reading I use the time adjustment window and manually synchronize the time to the correct time. I have noted that the seconds window changes only every 4 to 7 actual seconds- - for example, if I have just synchronized the time and the seconds read '23' they will change to '24' only after an interval of 4 to 7 actual seconds. Consequently the clock always reads a time that is lagged behind the actual time.
b) auto synchronization of the time doesn't work at all - the appropriate time zone (America/Vancouver) and internet servers (clock.tricity.wsu.edu) are chosen but the synchronization never occurs. The clock simply stops at whatever time was shown immediately after the reading when the 'adjust time and date' window was accessed. I have tried various internet servers with the same lack of results. Auto synchronization doesn't ever seem to occur.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun Oct 14 14:32:18 2007
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 7.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/yelp
Package: yelp 2.18.1-0ubuntu2
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcCmdline: gnome-help ghelp:///usr/share/gnome/help/time-admin/C/time-admin.xml
ProcCwd: /home/howard
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: yelp
Uname: Linux Ubuntu 2.6.20-16-generic #2 SMP Sun Sep 23 19:50:39 UTC 2007 i686 GNU/Linux