1. A freely suspended magnet always points in the north–south direction because earth behaves like a huge bar magnet. The geographic north pole of the earth is the magnetic south pole and the geographic south pole is the magnetic north pole
2. Experiment showing that like poles repel each other:

Suspend a magnet freely from a wooden stand with a thread. When it comes to rest in north-south direction, bring the north pole of another magnet near the north pole of the suspended magnet. Then the north pole of freely suspended magnet will be repelled. Repeat the same process with south poles such that south pole will repel. This shows that like poles repel each other.